The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    Review of acupuncture for pain after surgery

    Acupuncture around the time of surgery may reduce acute postoperative pain, according to this 2008 review by researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.

    First, the details.

    • 15 studies comparing acupuncture with sham control in the management of acute postoperative pain were selected for review.
    • Postoperative opioid consumption, postoperative pain, and opioid-related side-effects were reviewed.

    And, the results.

    • Opioid analgesic consumption was significantly less with acupuncture: -9 mg at 72 hours post surgery.
    • Pain intensity following surgery was also significantly decreased in the acupuncture group at 8 and 72 hours vs the control group.
    • The acupuncture treatment group had fewer opioid-related side-effects such as nausea, dizziness, sedation, pruritus, and urinary retention.

    The bottom line?
    The authors concluded, “Perioperative acupuncture may be a useful adjunct for acute postoperative pain management.”

    6/6/08 21:42 JR

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