Acupuncture for Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Acupuncture For Prevention Of Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting In Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - A Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose is to find out if intraoperative acupuncture performed by needling PC 6 and LI4 point bilaterally, and Yin Tang point will help reduce the incidence postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy when added to a prophylactic regimen consisting of ondansetron and dexamethasone. The hypothesis is that the addition of this acupuncture treatment to ondansetron and dexamethasone given for prophylaxis will help reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy when compared to patients receiving ondansetron and dexamethasone without acupuncture.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patient ages 18-64
2. American Society of Anesthesiology Physical Status I, II or III
3. Patients scheduled to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Harris Health System Ben Taub Hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Scheduled open cholecystectomy - excluded due to increased levels of pain in open procedures
2. Renal dysfunction (Serum Cr > 1.2) - excluded due to potential altered metabolism of anesthetic and perioperative medications
3. Allergy to any of the standard anesthetic agents
4. Patient inability to properly communicate with investigators (language barrier, dementia, delirium, psychiatric disorder)
5. Patient or surgeon refusal