Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Prophylaxis in High-Risk Female Patients: A Pragmatic, Randomized, Single-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial.
J Invest SurgMay 18, 2026 (epub)
Liping Yu, Xiao Wang, Ling Mei et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial assessed the effectiveness of wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in high-risk female patients undergoing elective surgery. Among 132 participants, WAA significantly reduced 24-hour PONV incidence to 42.4% compared to 71.2% in the sham group (RR 0.60, p = 0.002).
Key findings
- WAA reduced 24-h PONV incidence to 42.4% vs. 71.2% in the sham group (RR 0.60, p = 0.002).
- Median R-INVR scores were significantly lower with WAA [0 (0-5) vs. 8 (0-11); p < 0.001].
- Patients receiving WAA reported significantly reduced nausea/vomiting at 30 min, 6 h, and 24 h (all p ≤ 0.006).
- Satisfaction scores were higher in the WAA group (p < 0.001).
Why it matters
Postoperative nausea and vomiting can significantly impact recovery and hospital stay. Effective non-pharmacological interventions like WAA may enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction in high-risk surgical populations.