The Use of Short-Term Acupressure to Prevent Long-Term PONV: Was This a Case of Too Little, Too Late?

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common surgical complication that contributes to poor patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine if acupressure to the P6 pressure point during the immediate postoperative period decreased PONV for the first 24 postoperative hours. This was a double-blind, randomized study. Experimental group participants wore a wristband, which administered acupressure to the P6 pressure point of one wrist. Control group wristbands were malpositioned. Bands remained on until patients were discharged from the postanesthesia care unit or up to a maximum of 2 hours. Data on nausea, vomiting, and antiemetic use were tracked for the first 24 postoperative hours. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in PONV or antiemetic use. Short-term postoperative acupressure to one wrist did not lead to a 24-hour decrease in nausea, vomiting, or antiemetic use.