A Comparison of Acupuncture Versus Placebo for Postdischarge Nausea and Vomiting Prophylaxis: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled, Patient- and Observer-Blinded Trial

Introduction: Postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PDNV) occur in up to 37% of surgical patients and increase readmissions. While acupuncture reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), its effect on PDNV with standard prophylaxis is unclear. This study investigates whether acupuncture lowers PDNV incidence compared with sham treatment. Pain and POVN were secondary outcomes. Materials and Methods: This randomized, placebo-controlled, patient- and observer-blinded trial was conducted to determine whether acupuncture using three acupuncture points performed after surgery was an effective treatment in preventing PDNV compared with placebo. Patients (n = 129) scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery were randomly assigned to two groups receiving either acupuncture (n = 69) or placebo (n = 60). A prespecified subgroup analysis was conducted in 64 women, of whom 35 were allocated to the sham group and 31 to the acupuncture group. All adverse events (AEs), regardless of causality, were recorded and analyzed. Result: The overall incidence of PDNV did not differ significantly between groups (6.17% acupuncture vs. 13.33% placebo, p = 0.09). However, in the preplanned female subgroup, acupuncture significantly reduced PDNV compared with placebo (24% vs. 50%, p = 0.03). No significant difference between the groups regarding PONV or pain was detected. Only a few cases of AE were reported, and these were mild and self-limiting. No serious AEs were reported. Conclusion: There was no significant difference between acupuncture and placebo regarding PDNV. However, a significant reduction in PDNV was shown in the acupuncture group among females compared with placebo.