Is commercially available point finder accurate and reliable in detecting active auricular acupuncture points?

OBJECTIVES: This study was done to determine the specificity and sensitivity of a commercial Pointer Plus (Point finder) in detecting a region of low skin resistance on the ear. DESIGN: This was a prospective blinded study. SETTING/LOCATION: The study was done at the Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT. SUBJECTS: The subjects were men and women who work at Yale New Haven Hospital. INTERVENTIONS: There were no interventions. OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlations were made between self-reported musculoskeletal pain and the detection of low skin resistance on the ear. RESULTS: The positive predictive value for Pointer Plus detecting low skin resistance correlating to the neck region of French auricular map is 0.76 (76%). The positive predictive value for Pointer Plus to detect low skin resistance area correlating to the low back region of French auricular map is 0.25. The positive predictive value for Pointer Plus in detecting any low in skin resistance on the external auricles in patients who complained of more than two musculoskeletal pains is 0.29. CONCLUSIONS: The specificity and sensitivity of a commercial Pointer Plus (point finder) in detecting a region of low skin resistance on the ear being unreliable, depending on the correlating area based on a published auricular map. Additional assessments are needed to support the clinical practice.

The impact of asynchronous electroacupuncture stimulation duration on cold thermal pain threshold.

The durations of asynchronous electroacupuncture can affect the resultant hypoalgesia. Healthy volunteers were randomized to receive different durations (0 min, 20 min, 30 min, or 40 min) of asynchronous electroacupuncture stimulations (alternating low/high [2/100 Hz] frequency at 5 mA). Using a human experimental cold thermal pain threshold model, we found that 30 min of asynchronous 2/100 Hz stimulation resulted in the most significant hypoalgesic effect that was sustained for at least 60 min after stimulation compared with 0-, 20-, or 40-min stimulations (P < 0.05). We conclude that the most optimal duration for asynchronous electroacupuncture stimulation is 30 min.

Extra-1 acupressure for children undergoing anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture and related techniques have been used as adjuncts for perioperative anesthesia management. We examined whether acupressure in the Extra-1 (Yin-Tang) point would result in decreased preprocedural anxiety and reduced intraprocedural propofol requirements in a group of children undergoing endoscopic procedures. METHODS: Fifty-two children were randomized to receive acupressure bead intervention either at the Extra-1 acupuncture point or at a sham point. A Bispectral Index (BIS) monitor was applied to all children before the onset of the intervention. Anxiety was assessed at baseline and before entrance to the operating room. Anesthetic techniques were standardized and maintained with IV propofol infusion titrated to keep BIS values of 40-60. RESULTS: We found that after the intervention, children in the Extra-1 group experienced reduced anxiety whereas children in the sham group experienced increased anxiety (-9% [-3 to -15] vs 2% [-6 to 7.4], P = 0.012). In contrast, no significant changes in BIS values were observed in the preprocedural waiting period between groups (P = ns). We also found that total intraprocedural propofol requirements did not differ between the two study groups (214 +/- 76 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) vs 229 +/- 95 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1), P = 0.52). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that acupressure bead intervention at Extra-1 acupoint reduces preprocedural anxiety in children undergoing endoscopic procedures. This intervention, however, has no impact on BIS values or intraprocedural propofol requirements.

Hypnosis reduces preoperative anxiety in adult patients.

In this study we examined the effect of hypnosis on preoperative anxiety. Subjects were randomized into 3 groups, a hypnosis group (n = 26) who received suggestions of well-being; an attention-control group (n = 26) who received attentive listening and support without any specific hypnotic suggestions and a "standard of care" control group (n = 24). Anxiety was measured pre- and postintervention as well as on entrance to the operating rooms. We found that patients in the hypnosis group were significantly less anxious postintervention as compared with patients in the attention-control group and the control group (31 +/- 8 versus 37 +/- 9 versus 41 +/- 11, analysis of variance, P = 0.008). Moreover, on entrance to the operating rooms, the hypnosis group reported a significant decrease of 56% in their anxiety level whereas the attention-control group reported an increase of 10% in anxiety and the control group reported an increase of 47% in their anxiety (P = 0.001). In conclusion, we found that hypnosis significantly alleviates preoperative anxiety. Future studies are indicated to examine the effects of preoperative hypnosis on postoperative outcomes.

Predicting which child-parent pair will benefit from parental presence during induction of anesthesia: a decision-making approach.

Using a multiply matched, concurrent cohort analysis, with 568 subjects matched from data obtained by our laboratory over the past 7 yr, we examined whether parental presence during induction of anesthesia (PPIA) reduces children's anxiety depending on the interaction between child and parent's baseline anxiety. Children's and parents' baseline anxiety was assessed preoperatively; children's anxiety was again assessed during induction of anesthesia. We found that anxious children who received PPIA from a calm parent were significantly less anxious during induction of anesthesia as compared with anxious children who did not receive PPIA (P = 0.03). In contrast, calm children who received PPIA from an overly anxious parent were significantly more anxious as compared with calm children who were not accompanied by a parent (P = 0.002). We found no effect of PPIA on children's anxiety during induction of anesthesia when calm parents accompanied calm children into the operating room (P = 0.15) or when overly anxious parents accompanied anxious children (P = 0.49). We conclude that the presence of a calm parent does benefit an anxious child during induction of anesthesia and the presence of an overly anxious parent has no benefit.

Acupressure and preoperative parental anxiety: a pilot study.

In this randomized sham-controlled study we examined the anxiolytic and sedative effects of acupressure on parents in the preoperative holding area before their children's surgery. Sixty-one parents received acupressure either at the Yintang point (midpoint between the two eyebrows) or at a sham point. Anxiety (as measured by the Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory), arterial blood pressure, and heart rate were assessed before and after the intervention and a Bispectral Index monitor was used to continuously monitor hypnotic sedation levels. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that parents in the acupressure group reported significantly less anxiety at 20 min post-intervention as compared with parents in the sham group (37 +/- 10 versus 45 +/- 13, P = 0.03). Bispectral Index values, heart rate, and arterial blood pressure, however, did not differ between the two study groups (P = not significant). We conclude that acupressure at the Yintang point may be used as a treatment for parental preoperative anxiety. Future studies are needed to quantify the magnitude and duration of the anxiolytic effect.

Sevoflurane versus halothane: postoperative maladaptive behavioral changes: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The authors conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial to determine whether the use of sevoflurane in children undergoing anesthesia and surgery results in a higher incidence of postoperative maladaptive behavioral changes as compared with halothane. METHODS: Children and their parents (n = 102) were randomly assigned to either a halothane group (n = 50) or a sevoflurane group (n = 52). The intraoperative anesthetic protocol was strictly controlled, and the postoperative analgesic consumption and pain levels were recorded. The effect of the group assignment on emergence status and maladaptive postoperative behavioral changes was assessed both by validated psychological measures and physiologic instruments (actigraphy) on postoperative days 1-7. Anxiety of the parent and child was also assessed, as was the child's postoperative recovery (Recovery Inventory). RESULTS: There were no group differences in preoperative state anxiety, postoperative analgesic requirements, postoperative pain, or the incidence of emergence delirium (P = not significant). Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance showed no group differences in the incidence of postoperative maladaptive behaviors (F4,72 = 0.60, P = 0.701) or actigraphic variables such as percent sleep, number of night awakenings, and night awakenings that lasted for more than 5 min (P = not significant). CONCLUSION: The authors found no increased incidence of emergence delirium, maladaptive postoperative behavior changes, or sleep disturbances in children undergoing anesthesia with sevoflurane as compared with halothane.

Preoperative anxiety and emergence delirium and postoperative maladaptive behaviors.

Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that the clinical phenomena of preoperative anxiety, emergence delirium, and postoperative maladaptive behavioral changes were closely related. We examined this issue using data obtained by our laboratory over the past 6 years. Only children who underwent surgery and general anesthesia using sevoflurane/O(2)/N(2)O and who did not receive midazolam were recruited. Children's anxiety was assessed preoperatively with the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS), emergence delirium was assessed in the postanesthesia care unit, and behavioral changes were assessed with the Post Hospital Behavior Questionnaire (PHBQ) on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14. Regression analysis showed that the odds of having marked symptoms of emergence delirium increased by 10% for each increment of 10 points in the child's state anxiety score (mYPAS). The odds ratio of having new-onset postoperative maladaptive behavior changes was 1.43 for children with marked emergence status as compared with children with no symptoms of emergence delirium. A 10-point increase in state anxiety scores led to a 12.5% increase in the odds that the child would have a new-onset maladaptive behavioral change after the surgery. This finding is highly significant to practicing clinicians, who can now predict the development of adverse postoperative phenomena, such as emergence delirium and postoperative behavioral changes, based on levels of preoperative anxiety.

Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the severity of the low back pain (LBP) during pregnancy, including prevalence, risk factors, impact on daily living, and health provider management. METHODS: An anonymous survey consisting of 36 questions was distributed to pregnant women participating in various prenatal care clinics and educational classes in New Haven County, Connecticut. A total of 950 surveys was returned from May 2002 through October 2003. At each site, a researcher was available each week to answer questions and gather surveys. RESULTS: Six hundred forty-five (68.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 65-72%) respondents reported experiencing LBP during their current pregnancy. The prevalence was not affected by gestational age (P =.56). Low back pain during the current pregnancy was predicted by age (younger women were more likely to develop it; P =.004), history of LBP without pregnancy (P =.002), during menstruation (P =.01), and during a previous pregnancy (P =.002). The majority of respondents reported that LBP during pregnancy caused sleep disturbances (58%; 95% CI 54-62%) and impaired daily living (57%; 95% CI 53-62%). Average pain was moderate in severity. Nearly 30% of respondents stopped performing at least one daily activity because of pain and reported that pain also impaired the performance of other routine tasks. Only 32% (95% CI 28-36%) of the respondents with LBP during pregnancy informed their prenatal care providers of this problem, and only 25% (95% CI 21-28%) of prenatal care providers recommended a treatment. CONCLUSION: Low back pain during pregnancy is a common problem that causes hardship in this population. Further studies are indicated in the areas of prevention and treatment.

Parental auricular acupuncture as an adjunct for parental presence during induction of anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether parental auricular acupuncture reduces parental preoperative anxiety and thus allows children to benefit from parental presence during induction of anesthesia. METHODS: Mothers of children who were scheduled to undergo surgery were randomly assigned to an acupuncture intervention group (auricular press needles at relaxation, tranquilizer point, and master cerebral point) or a sham acupuncture control group (auricular press needles at the shoulder, wrist, and extraneous auricular point). The intervention was performed at least 30 min before the child's induction of anesthesia. All mothers were present during induction of anesthesia. The behavioral and physiologic anxiety of mothers and children were rated during the perioperative process. RESULTS: : Multivariable analysis examining maternal anxiety as a function of group found a group-by-time interaction (F1,65 = 4.1, P = 0.04). That is, after induction, maternal anxiety in the acupuncture group was significantly lower (42.9 +/- 10 vs. 49.5 +/- 11; P = 0.014). A multivariate model (F1,65 = 4.8, P =0.031) also showed that children whose mothers received the acupuncture intervention were significantly less anxious on entrance to the operating room (34.9 +/- 20 vs. 47.4 +/- 26; P = 0.03) and during introduction of the anesthesia mask (38.6 +/- 25 vs. 55.6 +/- 31; P = 0.016). There were no significant differences in maternal blood pressure and heart rate between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: : Auricular acupuncture significantly decreased maternal anxiety during the preoperative period. Children of mothers who underwent acupuncture intervention benefitted from the reduction of maternal anxiety during the induction of anesthesia.