The effect of acupressure at PC6 and REN12 on vomiting in patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair: A double-blind randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Inguinal hernia surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgeries with complications such as postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of acupressure at PC6 and REN 12 points on vomiting of patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a double-blind, randomised clinical trial performed on 60 patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair. Using permutation blocks, patients were allocated in two groups (acupressure at PC6 and REN12 points). After the surgery and full patient consciousness, acupressure was applied on PC6 and REN 12 points separately in each group for 5 minutes; 2, 4 and 6 hours later, acupressure was repeated on those points. Two hours after each acupressure, frequency and severity of vomiting were determined. RESULTS: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the frequency of vomiting before the intervention and 2 hours after the intervention in the two intervention groups (P ≥ 0.05). Additionally, none of the two intervention groups experienced vomiting at 4, 6, and 8 hours after the intervention. CONCLUSION: It seems that acupressure at PC6 and REN 12 points are not effective in reducing the frequency and severity of vomiting in patients after inguinal hernia surgery.