TEAS effective for nausea and vomiting after stomach surgery

Combining transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) with antiemetics is effective in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). In a Chinese study, 62 female patients undergoing elective LSG were randomly assigned to receive either antiemetics (dexamethasone and tropisetron) alone or in combination with TEAS. In the TEAS group 41.9% experienced PONV within 48 hours after LSG, compared with 77.4% in the control group. The severity of PONV also differed significantly between groups. Only 16.1% in the TEAS group experienced clinically significant PONV, compared with 48% in the control group. In addition, fewer patients required antiemetic rescue medication in the TEAS group compared with the control group (29% versus 58.1%).

Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Combined with Dexamethasone and Tropisetron Prevents Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Female Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial. Obes Surg. 2021 May;31(5):1912-1920.