Mohamed M Abdelfatah1,2, Michelle C Beacham1, Michael Freedman1, Hans L Tillmann1,2. 1. Greenville Veterans Administration Health Care Center, Greenville, NC. 2. Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
Abstract
Background: Currently, patients undergoing colonoscopy receive sedation, but pain management with acupuncture could be a safer alternative. Cases: This article describes 3 cases for which Battlefield Acupuncture was applied during colonoscopy to avoid using opioids for sedation. One case was a patient with a life-threating morphine allergy, and 2 other cases avoided sedation completely. Results: Pain was reduced in all 3 cases to allow completion of colonoscopies without sedation. In Case 2, the patient also gained relief of preexisting mild joint pain. Conclusions: More data are needed, so potentially more patients can indeed avoid morphine/benzodiazepam-based sedation by use of acupuncture to make colonoscopies safer and more pleasant.
Background: Currently, patients undergoing colonoscopy receive sedation, but pain management with acupuncture could be a safer alternative. Cases: This article describes 3 cases for which Battlefield Acupuncture was applied during colonoscopy to avoid using opioids for sedation. One case was a patient with a life-threating morphineallergy, and 2 other cases avoided sedation completely. Results:Pain was reduced in all 3 cases to allow completion of colonoscopies without sedation. In Case 2, the patient also gained relief of preexisting mild joint pain. Conclusions: More data are needed, so potentially more patients can indeed avoid morphine/benzodiazepam-based sedation by use of acupuncture to make colonoscopies safer and more pleasant.
Authors: Hugh MacPherson; Adrian White; Mike Cummings; Kim A Jobst; Ken Rose; Richard C Niemtzow Journal: J Altern Complement Med Date: 2002-02 Impact factor: 2.579
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