Acupuncture combats anaesthetic drug shortage

Friday April 30th, 2010

Doctors in war-torn Iraq have successfully used acupuncture for caesarean section deliveries to counter shortages of anaesthetic drugs, it has been revealed.

A small study published in Acupuncture in Medicine now suggests that the techniques could be a useful addition to standard medical practice in fully equipped hospitals.

The report by anaesthetist Dr Lazgeen Zcherky says that acupuncture was used in 200 cases of emergency caesarean section deliveries at the Red Crescent Hospital for Gynaecology and Obstetrics in Baghdad between 2004 and 2006.

The technique was used to counter the effects of halothane, which relaxes the womb, but carries an increased risk of bleeding. Oxytocin, which is normally used to stem the effects, was in short supply at the time.

Dr Lazgeen Zcherky says six acupuncture needles were inserted into the mother's toes and ankles - the points which are said to relate to bleeding from the womb, prolapse of the womb, difficult labour, uterine contractions, and retention of the placenta - as soon after delivery as possible and were manually stimulated for between five and 10 minutes.

In 45 per cent of cases, uterine contraction was sufficient so no oxytocin was needed, while 35 per cent required two units. Almost one in five required two to five units of oxytocin and only four needed more than five units. The standard requirement for oxytocin for this procedure would normally be 10 to 20 units.

"We were thus able to conserve stocks of those drugs we held in short supply without ill effects on our patients," writes Dr Zcherky.

Because of a shortage of trained paediatricians and incubators, he also tried the techniques on babies in respiratory distress (low Apgar score).

He exerted gentle pressure for up to two minutes on an acupuncture point on the soles of the feet of 50 babies with low Apgar scores. This worked well for 42 babies, whose scores rose to 9-10.

"These acupuncture techniques, born out of necessity, have proved useful in overcoming the deficiency of modern drugs and equipment in a war-torn city. But it may also be helpful to consider their use as an adjunct to standard practice in Western hospitals," he adds.

Earlier this week an analysis said acupuncture was ineffective at controlling pain in labour.

Acupunct Med 2010; doi 10.1136/aim.2010.002253

Tags: Alternative Therapy | Asia | Childbirth and Pregnancy | Pain Relief | Women’s Health & Gynaecology

Printer friendly page