Key Finding
Patients who received auricular point acupressure before perianal abscess surgery reported significantly lower postoperative pain scores and reduced anxiety and depression compared to controls, with no serious adverse effects.
If you've ever had surgery for a perianal abscess, you know that the recovery can be uncomfortable — both physically and emotionally. Pain, anxiety, and the stress of bowel movements after surgery can make healing feel overwhelming. A recent study published in the journal Explore looked at whether a gentle, non-drug therapy called auricular point acupressure could help patients feel better after this type of surgery.
Auricular point acupressure involves applying small seeds or beads to specific points on the ear and pressing them regularly throughout the day. It's based on the principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine that the ear contains points connected to the whole body. In this study, 61 patients scheduled for perianal abscess surgery were divided into two groups. One group received auricular acupressure on points including Shenmen and the subcortical point, pressing each point five to six times daily for about three to five minutes. The other group received only standard pre-surgical care.
The results were encouraging. Patients who received auricular acupressure reported significantly less pain at 48 hours, 72 hours, one week after surgery, and even during their first bowel movement post-surgery — a notoriously painful milestone in this type of recovery. Beyond pain, the acupressure group also scored meaningfully lower on standardized scales measuring both anxiety and depression after surgery, suggesting real emotional as well as physical benefits.
While fewer patients in the acupressure group needed additional pain medications, that particular difference wasn't statistically significant, meaning it may need further study. No serious side effects were reported, making this a low-risk complementary option.
For patients facing surgical recovery, auricular acupressure could offer meaningful relief alongside conventional care. Speak with a licensed acupuncturist or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner to explore whether this therapy is right for you.
This prospective controlled trial (n = 61) evaluated perioperative auricular point acupressure (APA) in patients undergoing one-stage radical surgery for perianal abscess. The treatment group (n = 31) received bilateral APA at Shenmen, subcortical, and adjunct points for one week preoperatively, with self-applied pressure five to six times daily for three to five minutes per session. Controls (n = 30) received standard perioperative preparation only.
Primary outcomes included VAS pain scores, supplemental analgesic use, and Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A) and Depression (HAM-D) scale scores assessed preoperatively and at 6h, 24h, 48h, 72h, one week, and first defecation post-surgery. The APA group demonstrated statistically significant VAS reductions at 48h, 72h, one week, and first defecation (all P < 0.05). HAM-A and HAM-D scores were also significantly lower in the treatment group postoperatively (P < 0.05). Supplemental analgesic use trended lower (22.58% vs. 33.33%) but did not reach significance (P = 0.35).
Clinical takeaway: Preoperative APA protocol offers a low-risk, patient-administered adjunct for managing postoperative pain and psychological stress in colorectal surgical patients.
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