1. Introduction
Anxiety prior to undergoing surgery is experienced by approximately 60–70% of adult patients [1]. The effects of reducing preoperative anxiety can be observed by estimating heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and neuroendocrinological changes [2]. These effects can also be determined during or after surgery through the examination of analgesic requirements, behavioral recovery, time taken to awaken, pain, and whether such outcomes also engender additional financial costs to patients [3, 4]. Pharmacological (e.g., opioids and sedatives used as anxiolytics) and psychological interventions (e.g., music and preparatory education regarding the operation) are commonly used to reduce preoperative anxiety [5, 6]. However, conventional medical treatments are only moderately effective and often produce problematic side effects, including bradycardia, hypotension, drowsiness, respiratory depression, pruritus, laryngeal rigidity, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), delayed emergence, and tolerance and dependence, thereby prolonging patient recovery and treatment duration [7, 8]. Therefore, there is a clear need formore effective, safer nterventions.This has led to an increase in the attention received by complementary and alternative interventions such as acupuncture, which is the most widely used of such approaches [9]. Patients benefit from the lack of side effects and relatively low cost involved
in acupuncture [10]. Acupuncture is gaining popularity in western medical culture as a tool for pain relief [11, 12], and evidence is emerging concerning its potential mechanisms of action. For example, electroacupuncture blocks pain by activating a variety of bioactive chemicals via peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal mechanisms [13]. Recently, several studies have evaluated the “extra 1” acupuncture or acupressure point with respect to relieving preoperative and general anxiety [8, 14–18]. However, to date, there have been no meta-analyses performed regarding
this topic; therefore, we sought to summarize and critically assess evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of various types of acupuncture therapy with respect to reducing preoperative anxiety.
Anxiety prior to undergoing surgery is experienced by approximately 60–70% of adult patients [1]. The effects of reducing preoperative anxiety can be observed by estimating heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and neuroendocrinological changes [2]. These effects can also be determined during or after surgery through the examination of analgesic requirements, behavioral recovery, time taken to awaken, pain, and whether such outcomes also engender additional financial costs to patients [3, 4]. Pharmacological (e.g., opioids and sedatives used as anxiolytics) and psychological interventions (e.g., music and preparatory education regarding the operation) are commonly used to reduce preoperative anxiety [5, 6]. However, conventional medical treatments are only moderately effective and often produce problematic side effects, including bradycardia, hypotension, drowsiness, respiratory depression, pruritus, laryngeal rigidity, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), delayed emergence, and tolerance and dependence, thereby prolonging patient recovery and treatment duration [7, 8]. Therefore, there is a clear need formore effective, safer nterventions.This has led to an increase in the attention received by complementary and alternative interventions such as acupuncture, which is the most widely used of such approaches [9]. Patients benefit from the lack of side effects and relatively low cost involved
in acupuncture [10]. Acupuncture is gaining popularity in western medical culture as a tool for pain relief [11, 12], and evidence is emerging concerning its potential mechanisms of action. For example, electroacupuncture blocks pain by activating a variety of bioactive chemicals via peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal mechanisms [13]. Recently, several studies have evaluated the “extra 1” acupuncture or acupressure point with respect to relieving preoperative and general anxiety [8, 14–18]. However, to date, there have been no meta-analyses performed regarding
this topic; therefore, we sought to summarize and critically assess evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of various types of acupuncture therapy with respect to reducing preoperative anxiety.
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