Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Combined with Tropisetron in Treating Carboprost Tromethamine-Induced Nausea and Vomiting during Cesarean Section under Lumbar Anesthesia

Abstract

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> We evaluated the efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with tropisetron in treating carboprost tromethamine-induced nausea and vomiting during cesarean section under lumbar anesthesia. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 264 patients aged 22–40 years were enrolled, who received carboprost tromethamine and suffered nausea and vomiting during cesarean section under lumbar anesthesia. The patients were divided randomly into the control group, electroacupuncture group, tropisetron group, and electroacupuncture + tropisetron group. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Compared to the control group, the nausea and vomiting scores decreased at T₃ in both the electroacupuncture and electroacupuncture + tropisetron groups, and decreased at T₄ in the electroacupuncture group, tropisetron group, and electroacupuncture + tropisetron group; the motilin, gastrin, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels decreased at T₅ in the other 3 groups. Compared to the electroacupuncture + tropisetron group, the nausea and vomiting scores increased at T₃ in the control and tropisetron groups, and increased at T₄ in the other 3 groups; the motilin, gastrin, and 5-HT levels increased at T₅. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our study suggested that electroacupuncture combined with tropisetron could effectively relieve carboprost tromethamine-induced nausea and vomiting during cesarean section under lumbar anesthesia. The effect was better than its single application, and the reduced 5-HT, motilin, and gastrin levels might be involved in the underlying mechanism.