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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.

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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.

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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)