Postoperative pain following intraoperative acupuncture: a randomized‑controlled study

Context and objectives This study examined the impact of an integrative oncology intervention on postoperative care, primarily postoperative pain, in patients undergoing gynaecological oncology surgery. Methods Participants were randomised to three groups: group A, preoperative touch/relaxation modalities, followed by intraoperative acupuncture; group B, preoperative touch/relaxation only and group C, standard conventional care alone. Using an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol, medical personnel retrospectively assessed pain on each postoperative day (POD), using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS; 0, no pain; 10, most severe pain). Use of analgesics, bowel movements, urination and number of days until discharge were also assessed. Results A total of 102 patients participated, with similar baseline demographic and surgery-related characteristics among the three groups (group A, 45; group B, 25 and group C, 32). Group A patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery reported significantly lower pain scores on POD1 than group C (p=0.018). Group B patients undergoing open laparotomy were discharged earlier than group C (p=0.031). No significant between-group differences were found for VAS pain scales, use of analgesics or report of first postoperative bowel movement or urination. Conclusions This prospective, controlled and pragmatic ERAS-based study suggests that intraoperative acupuncture may reduce postoperative pain on POD1, in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological oncology surgery. The findings differ from a previous study which found no effect of acupuncture on pain-related haemodynamic parameters during laparoscopy. Further research using objective nociception parameters is needed to explore the effect of intraoperative acupuncture on postoperative pain. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03560388 )