Acupuncture May Ease Discomfort and Anxiety During Colonoscopy

Italian researchers report that acupuncture may be a useful way of reducing the discomfort and anxiety of patients undergoing a screening colonoscopy for colorectal cancer.

Despite guidelines emphasizing the importance of getting an initial screening colonoscopy at age 50, many shun the test because of fear of experiencing pain and discomfort during the procedure.

In a study conducted in Milan, 30 patients scheduled to undergo colonoscopy were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture, a sham acupuncture treatment, or no acupuncture.

A small amount of the sedative Midazolam was administered at the outset of the procedure, and again anytime patients complained of “severe” pain.

"Pain level was lower, although not significantly, in the acupuncture group," the researchers reported in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

But while only 30 percent of the patients in the acupuncture group required more Midazolam, 80 percent of those in the sham group and nine in the non-acupuncture group needed more sedative.

"Acupuncture may decrease the demand for sedative drugs during colonoscopy by reducing discomfort and anxiety of the patient and the well-known adverse effects of pharmacologic sedation," the researchers concluded.

Other Sources: American Journal of Gastroenterology