EVALUATION ACUPRESSURE EFFECT ON NAUSEA AND VOMITING DURING AND AFTER CESAREAN SECTION UNDER SPINAL ANESTHESIA IN PREGNANT WEMEN REFERRED TO RAZI HOSPITAL

Nausea and vomiting are common complications during and after spinal anesthesia. Antiemetic drugs are used to reduce vomiting, but these drugs have some inherent potential side effects. Acupressure is a non-aggressive method, which lacks drug-induced side effects, that some the researchers recommend it for controlling and reducing nausea and vomiting. The aim of this study clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of the acupressure on the nausea and vomiting during and after cesarean section under spinal and was conducted at Razi hospital in Ahwaz 1379. In this study 100 pregnant women (aged 18-35), were randomly assigned into either an acupressure group (n = 50) or a control group (n = 50). The patients were at term pregnancy; single gestation; underwent transversal uterine and abdominal incision and spinal anesthesia with lidocaine 5% plus pethedin. Height, BMI, education, gravity, and gestational age, cause of cesarean section and nausea and vomiting in pregnancy were matched in both groups. In acupressure group, at least 15min before the induction of anesthesia, sea bands were placed on the Neiguan (p6) pointed hands. In the control group no bands were placed and no antiemetic drug was administered. All the patient were assessed for incidence and severity of vomiting during and two hours after cesarean section. In addition, the incidence time of nausea and vomiting and need of antiemetic drug were compared between the two groups. The results showed that acupressure was not effective in decreasing nausea incidence during sectioning (P = 0.11). However, acupressure reduced both the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting during and after operation (P<0.05). There was also a significant reduction in administration antiemetic drugs between two groups (P<0.05). In addiiton, acupressure produced a delayed nausea and vomiting (P<0.05). The findings from this study suggest that acupressure is as an effective as non-drug method and can be used for reduction of nausea and vomiting caused by spinal anesthesia in cesarean section.