Acupunture as a method of analgesia

Abstract

Introduction: Acupuncture as a therapeutic method of treatment comes from China and is becoming more widespread in Europe nowadays. It is based on the meridian theory and assumed mechanisms of action: autonomic, neuroendocrine and bioenergetical. The needles are pierced at specific points of the body, placed along the meridian line of movement which on the body of energy. If at their path appears an exciting form of stinging or pressure, then it can reduce pain and improve body condition that was affected. Purpose and Objectives: The effectiveness of acupuncture in postoperative analgesia, which was conducted in the National Scientific and Practical Center for Emergency Medicine (IMSP CNSPM U) Microsurgery Department. Material and Methods: We selected 20 patients between 20 and 50 years, suffer from skin trauma, soft tissue and vascular structures in the mining regions, which underwent a microsurgical intervention. They were divided into two groups of 10 patients each. Patients of the first group received 3 sessions of acupuncture and analgesic medication. The second group had only two analgesic drugs. All patients were analyzed according to subjective criterias: Visual-Analogue Scale (VAS), personal comfort and the objective criterias: blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate. The materials used were: set of individualized acupuncture needles, Visual- Analogue Scale, tensometer, thermometer, assessment questionnaire for postoperative pain management, patient satisfaction questionnaire for assessing the management of acute postoperative pain, patient informed consent about participating at the study. Results: The study showed that the first group which received minor analgesics, like sol. baralgin in combination with acupuncture by demand, a value of 5-6 points at VAS and objective indexes in the normal range. In the control group were administered major analgesics, like promedol, schematically, and VAS score was 8-9 points and clues major objective, as was observed in 4 patients dyspeptic side effects. Conclusion: We can say that acupuncture is a non-invasive method, followed by a stable postanestesic period with persistent analgesia and postoperative evolving remarkably good, due to the absence of adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting, which include early enteral feeding, early mobilization and less adverse effects.