

155
A PROSPECTIVE PLACEBO-CONTROLLED RANDOMISED TRIAL
12
Intervention
After starting propofol sedation, the acupuncture needles were placed by the acupuncturist
according to allocation and connected to a six-channel programmable electrical stimulator
(SVESA 1031, Germany, Munich); needles were fastened with tape.
Patients in the EA group were treated with real acupuncture needles (Asia-med, Germany,
Special No. 16 (0.30x30mm/Gauge 8x1.2”), inserted unilateral on PC6, ST36, and LI4
according to the theory of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (Figure 1).
The combination of PC6, ST36 and LI4 is considered to be relevant for providing sedation
and for diminishing abdominal distension.
22
PC6 is used for preventing and treatment of nausea and vomiting. ST36 is supposed to be
the acupuncture point with the most influence on the gastro-intestinal tract, and LI4 is one
of the most used acupuncture points for the treatment of pain and intestinal diseases.
23
The SA group was treated with the same sort of needles. In contrast to the EA group the
needles were inserted 1 cm distal and lateral to the used acupuncture points (PC6, ST36,
LI4) on “non-point“- locations that are not known as acupuncture points.
The PA group received placebo needles (Streitberger needles, Asia-med, Germany, 0.30x30
mm/Gauge 8x1.2”) on the same points used for sham-acupuncture to exclude a significant
effect of acupressure on the regular acupuncture points.
The Streitberger needle is a lookalike of a real acupuncture needle but has a blunt tip whose
shaft telescopes into the handle during application without penetrating the skin.
24
We aimed for a stimulation frequency (1–10 Hz), which is low enough not to provoke
muscle contraction. In the control groups, the stimulator was likewise connected but
without electrical stimulation. The intervention with electro-acupuncture was stopped as
soon as the colonoscopy was finished. In all groups the needles were removed at the end
of the colonoscopy procedure.
Figure 2.
Patients’ and bronchoscopists’ median VAS scores
Chapter 12
Figure 1.
Acupuncture points (white) versus sham acupuncture points (red)
Figure 1.
Acupuncture points (white) versus sham acupuncture points (red)