After a cesarean section, electroacupuncture plus patient-controlled intravenous analgesia is clinically effective and safe for pain management.

The goal of this study was to assess the ideal frequency for best analgesic effect, investigate  underlying mechanism of action, and evaluate effectiveness of electroacupuncture combined with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia for postsurgery analgesia following cesarean section.

In this randomized clinical trial, Fentanyl was used as a patient-controlled intravenous analgesic for postoperative pain relief in females who underwent cesarean sections. Following surgery, the subjects were randomly assigned to get 2 Hz electroacupuncture (n = 53), 20/100 Hz electroacupuncture (n = 53), or sham electroacupuncture (n = 52, controls).

At ST36 and SP6 points, patients in the 2 electroacupuncture arms got electroacupuncture treatments at 2 or 20/100 Hz. Whereas at non-meridian points, patients in sham electroacupuncture group received non-energized electroacupuncture treatments. In all groups, 4 electroacupuncture sessions were performed at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours following surgery.

The number of analgesic pump compressions 48 hours after surgery was the major endpoint. The time until first exhaustion, interleukin-6 and procalcitonin levels at 12 and 48 hours after surgery, fentanyl consumption at 48 hours after surgery, pain scores at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery, and the number of analgesic pump compressions at 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery were the secondary outcomes ascertained.

The intention-to-treat analysis comprised 174 primigravida women in total. In comparison to the sham electroacupuncture group, pain scores, the number of analgesic pump compressions at all 4 time points, and fentanyl intake at 48 hours postoperatively were all considerably reduced in the electroacupuncture treatment groups.

Electroacupuncture can be regarded as safe and efficient, and it may enhance the effectiveness of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia for pain control following cesarean delivery. As a regular supplemental therapy for pain management after a cesarean section, electroacupuncture may be suggested.

Within 48 hours following surgery, electroacupuncture along with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia showed a greater analgesic effect than sham electroacupuncture along with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia.