Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Answering the Call - May 2020 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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that PC6 stimulation has comparable effects to traditional antiemetics — metoclopramide, cyclizine, prochlorperazine, droperidol, ondansetron and dexamethasone — in PONV preven- tion. Acupressure also uses the PC6 acupoint, but is less invasive, as it uses firm pressure to massage the forearm near the wrist instead of acupuncture's stimulation of the acupoint with an extremely thin nee- dle. Acupressure offers an additional advantage of being utilitarian. Almost any member of your staff can apply it, while a licensed acupuncturist is required for acupuncture. Acupressure can even be taught to the patients and their family members. As with Reiki and meditation, these therapies are often used as supplements to traditional medications. They could, however, serve as replacements, depending on what's best for an individual patient. When I use these therapies in my practice, I look at the whole per- son and create an individualized treatment plan. There might be some other aspect of their being that is grossly out of balance that could be relieved with pressure applied on another acupoint. Many people come to my acupuncture practice with interest in optimizing the condition of their bodies before surgery and enhanc- ing their recoveries afterward. Acupuncture can help them meet those goals. • Aromatherapy. Lavender, ginger, spearmint, peppermint and other essential oils have well established positive effects on nausea originating from the stomach Qi. Surgery can disrupt the body's natu- ral balance and reverse the stomach's Qi, causing it to push things up and out instead of down and in. Aromatherapy can be used to settle the Qi to restore its natural function. Stomach or intestinal issues aren't always the result of post-op nausea, however. PONV is a most often a reaction to general anes- 7 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A Y 2 0 2 0

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