Effect of capsicum plaster at the P6 acupoint on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of capsicum plaster, applied to the Chinese acupuncture point (acupoint) Pericardium 6 (P6), in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients scheduled for ESS were randomly placed in one of 3 groups. Each group had 50 patients. Inactive tape was affixed at both P6 acupoints and both shoulders in the control (placebo) group. Capsicum plaster was affixed at both P6 acupoints and inactive tape was affixed at both shoulders in the capsicum plaster (P6) group. Capsicum plaster was affixed at both shoulders and inactive tape at both P6 acupoints in the sham group. Plasters and tapes were affixed before the induction and removed 8 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV and requirement for antiemetics were significantly lower in the P6 group than in the control and sham groups during the 24 hours after surgery. At postoperative 0-24 hour, nausea was 42% in the control group, 2% in the P6 group, and 38% in the sham group. Postoperative vomiting was 28%, 0% and 26%, respectively, and the use of antiemetics was 34%, 0% and 32%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulation of the P6 acupoint with capsicum plaster is effective for preventing PONV at postoperative 0-24 hour in patients undergoing ESS.

Trends of HIV-infected Patients Operated at Single Hospital / 병원감염관리

BACKGROUND: As anti-retroviral therapy has improved and the life expectancy of patients' with HIV in Korea has increased, an increased number of surgical procedures have been performed in this population. Therefore, in the current study, we investigated the trend in surgery conducted on patients with HIV in our hospital over the last 5 years. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of HIV-infected patients who underwent surgery under general or local anesthesia at our hospital between 2005 and 2010. RESULTS: The total number of surgeries performed in HIV-infected patients in the 5-year period was 95. Of these, 23 (24%) were performed under general anesthesia and 72 (76%) under spinal anesthesia. Anorectal surgery was the most commonly performed surgery (71 cases, 76%). The postoperative complication rate was 5.3% (3 cases of pneumonia and 2 of wound infection), with general anesthesia and time to discharge being identified as contributory factors. Preoperative CD4+ T cell count was not significantly associated with complications. CONCLUSION: This study was the first to analyze the trends in surgical procedures performed in HIV-infected patients in Korea. Our study may be beneficial as a reference for clinicians who manage patients with HIV.