To determine the ability of electroacupuncture on PC6 versus sham acupuncture in reducing incidence of intraoperative and postoperative nausea vomiting in parturients who underwent Caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia

Caesarean rate in most countries are increasing year by year. A report shows that the caesarean section rate for government hospitals in Malaysia was 10.5% in 2000 and 11.0% in 20011 and it rises to 25% of total delivery in Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Malaysia in year 2018. Nowadays, about 7% of all surgical procedures worldwide are caesarean section and the majority of them are performed with neuraxial blockade, ie epidural anesthesia, spinal anesthesia, or a combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSE).

Nausea and vomiting are common intraoperative and postoperative complications in women having caesarean section under neuraxial anesthesia.Compared to the plethora of literatures about PONV, little attention has been paid to nausea vomiting occurring during or after regional anesthesia. These techniques gain increasing attention.

Current literature review indicates a high incidence of IONV during CS under spinal anesthesia up to 80%4. The etiology of intraoperative and postoperative nausea and vomiting (IONV and PONV) is multifactorial. Pregnant women are already likely to suffer from nausea and vomiting because of the pregnancy itself. According to Apfel's score predictive of PONV score that consists of four ascertained risk factors (female, non-smoker, opioid use, previous PONV events or motion sickness), parturients often meet at least two of these criteria with their gender and non-smoker status.

Despite the practice of prescribing antiemetic prophylaxis medication, the incidence of nausea and vomiting in CS patient is still up to 30-50%6. The efficacy of antiemetic drugs is limited and their administration is not free from side effects. Nausea and vomiting not only causes dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and adversely affects wound healing, but also leads to increased wound pain, discomfort, and anxiety among post partum patient. This may further lead to increased medical expenses and extended hospital stay, leaving patient with the overall negative surgical experience. Hence, the idea of multimodal therapy in prophylaxis of IONV and PONV arises.

Non-pharmacological techiniques such as acupuncture, acupressure,and transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation of the pericardium 6(PC6) Neiguan point have been studied for the prevention of PONV. The increasing popularity of these modalities is, in part, due to their low cost, simplicity, and in obstetrics, concern about placental transfer and secretion in breast milk of drugs.

It is hypothesized that PC6 electroacupunture stimulation will reduce the incidence of IONV and PONV and reduce the usage of antiemetic drugs in post partum patient.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Parturients (36-42 weeks pregnant) aged 18-45 undergoing planned for Caesarean Section.
• American Society of Anaesthesiology class II patients only

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with a previous history of PONV or nausea and vomiting in the preceding 24 hours
• Patients who required emergent surgery where delay is inappropriate and can compromise mother and foetus, e.g. foetal distress, foetal bradycardia, chorioamnionitis, cord prolapse, severe preeclampsia
• Patients with documented or known history of allergy to granisetron
• Morbid obesity (BMI>40) as morbid obesity patient will be not be given intrathecal morphine due to increase risk of post operative respiratory depression.
• Patients using any antiemetic drug including dexamethasone for 24 hours prior to Caesarean section (CS)
• Patient who had an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator device. (safety of the use of electroacupuncture on these patient is questionable)
• Patient who received opioids prior to CS (opioid is known to have nausea and vomiting side effect)
• Patient refusal
• Severe preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus on treatment, neurological or cardiac disease.

Study Methodology