This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (12) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kim, K. S. Articles by Seung, I. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kim, K. S. Articles by Seung, I. S. Related Collections Postanesthetic Care Unit Anesthetic Techniques

---

GENERAL ARTICLES

Capsicum Plaster at the Korean Hand Acupuncture Point Reduces Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Abdominal Hysterectomy

Kyo S. Kim, MD PhD^*, Min S. Koo, MD^*, Jeong W. Jeon, MD^*, Hahck S. Park, MD, and Ik S. Seung, MD PhD^*

*Department of Anesthesiology, Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea; and Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, In Je University, Seoul, Korea

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Kyo Sang Kim, MD, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology, Hanyang University Hospital, 17 Haengdang dong, Sungdong gu, Seoul 133-792, Korea. Address e-mail to kimks{at}hanyang.ac.kr

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are still common and distressing problems after general anesthesia, especially in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. We studied a nonpharmacological therapy of PONV—capsicum plaster (PAS)—at either the Korean hand acupuncture point K-D2 or the Chinese acupuncture point Pericardium 6 (P6) of both hands. One-hundred-sixty healthy patients were included in a randomized, double-blinded study: 60 patients were in the control group, 50 patients were in the K-D2 group, and 50 patients were in the P6 group. PAS was applied at the K-D2 point in the K-D2 group and at the P6 point in the P6 group, whereas in the control group, an inactive tape was fixed at the K-D2 point of both hands. The PAS was applied before the induction of anesthesia and removed at 8 h after surgery. The incidence of PONV and the need for rescue medication were evaluated at predetermined time intervals. In the treatment group, the incidence of vomiting was significantly less (22% for the K-D2 group and 26% for the P6 group) than in the control group (56.7%) at 24 h after surgery (P < 0.001). The need for rescue antiemetics was significantly less in the treatment groups compared with the control group (P < 0.001). We conclude that PAS at the Korean hand acupuncture point K-D2 was an effective method for reducing PONV, as was PAS at the P6 acupoint, after abdominal hysterectomy.

IMPLICATIONS: Capsicum plaster at either the Korean hand acupuncture point K-D2 or the Pericardium 6 acupoint reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. S. Kim, K. N. Kim, K. G. Hwang, and C. J. Park Capsicum Plaster at the Hegu Point Reduces Postoperative Analgesic Requirement After Orthognathic Surgery Anesth. Analg., March 1, 2009; 108(3): 992 - 996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. F. White Red-Hot Chili Peppers: A Spicy New Approach to Preventing Postoperative Pain Anesth. Analg., July 1, 2008; 107(1): 6 - 8. [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. J. Gan, T. A. Meyer, C. C. Apfel, F. Chung, P. J. Davis, A. S. Habib, V. D. Hooper, A. L. Kovac, P. Kranke, P. Myles, et al. Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia Guidelines for the Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Anesth. Analg., December 1, 2007; 105(6): 1615 - 1628. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. F. White Use of Alternative Medical Therapies in the Perioperative Period: Is It Time to Get on Board? Anesth. Analg., February 1, 2007; 104(2): 251 - 254. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. S. Kim and Y. M. Nam The analgesic effects of capsicum plaster at the zusanli point after abdominal hysterectomy. Anesth. Analg., September 1, 2006; 103(3): 709 - 713. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Rowbotham Recent advances in the non-pharmacological management of postoperative nausea and vomiting Br. J. Anaesth., July 1, 2005; 95(1): 77 - 81. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Bertalanffy, K. Hoerauf, R. Fleischhackl, H. Strasser, F. Wicke, M. Greher, B. Gustorff, and A. Kober Korean Hand Acupressure for Motion Sickness in Prehospital Trauma Care: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded Trial in a Geriatric Population Anesth. Analg., January 1, 2004; 98(1): 220 - 223. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]