Effect of acupuncture therapy on long-term postoperative pain in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with median sternotomy

Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture therapy on long-term postoperative pain in patients undergoing cardiac surgery through median sternal incision.

Methods A total of 120 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with median sternal incision were selected as study objects, and were randomly divided into control group (n=60) and acupuncture group (n=60). The former was treated with conventional treatment after surgery, while the latter group was treated with acupuncture therapy on the basis of conventional treatment. Postoperative analgesic drug dosage and postoperative recovery were compared between the two groups, and the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and T cell subsets before and after surgery were compared between the two groups. In addition, perioperative and postoperative long-term pain scores were also compared between the two groups.

Results The dosage of analgesic drugs in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the control group at 3 d, 7 d, 1 month and 3 months after operation, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Before surgery, there was no significant difference in CRP and T cell subsets between two groups (P>0.05). At 5 days after surgery, CRP and CD8⁺ levels in two groups were higher than before surgery, and CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ levels were lower than before surgery, but the CRP and CD8⁺ levels in the acupuncture group were lower than those of the control group, and CD4⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ levels were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The quality of life in the acupuncture group were higher than those in the control group, the perioperative and postoperative long-term pain scores of the acupuncture group were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). However, the mean length of stay and incidence of postoperative complications showed no significant differences between the two groups(P>0.05).

Conclusion Acupuncture therapy can significantly relieve the perioperative pain and long-term postoperative pain of patients with median sternal incision.