Acupuncture after heart valve surgery is feasible, safe and has clinical benefits, according to a recently published study. JTCVS Open.
Kim L. Feingold, PhD, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and colleagues randomly assigned patients (1:1) undergoing primary valve surgery through a sternotomy to either an acupuncture group (n=51) or a standard care group (n=49). Daily inpatient acupuncture sessions began on the first postoperative day.
The researchers found that an average of 3.8 acupuncture treatments were administered per patient during an average hospital stay of 4.6 days. Acupuncture was associated with reduced pain, nausea, stress, and anxiety after each treatment and during hospitalization compared with standard care.
Additionally, acupuncture was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (acupuncture, 13.7%; standard care, 32.7%), fewer discharges on amiodarone (acupuncture, 9.8%; standard care, 26.5%), and shorter intensive care unit stays (acupuncture, 30.3; standard care, 37.0%).
“We found that acupuncture after open-heart surgery was feasible in this fast-paced environment, even in the intensive care unit the day after surgery, and was well tolerated by patients without side effects,” Feingold said in a statement. “The majority of patients had never received acupuncture before and were open to receiving integrative therapy after surgery. Overall, patients reported that acupuncture was a pleasant and positive aspect of their recovery from cardiovascular surgery.”
Several authors disclosed ties to the medical technology industry.
For more information:
Kim L. Feingold et al. “Acupuncture after valve surgery is feasible and shows promise for reducing postoperative atrial fibrillation: the ACU-Heart pilot study.” JTCVS Open (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.2023.05.010
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