WHERE:
University of Exeter EX2 4NT, Pain Clinic, Colchester District General Hospital, Colchester CO4 5JL, Faculty of Science, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE
-- BMJ 2001;323:485-486 ( 1 September )
WHAT:
"Adverse events following acupuncture: prospective survey of 32 000 consultations with doctors and physiotherapists"
WHO
Adrian White, senior lecturer, Simon Hayhoe, anaesthetist, Anna Hart, principal lecturer, Edzard Ernst, professor.
WHY:
This is what the researchers say:
"Acupuncture is increasingly popular, but it is not free from risk for the patient. Safety is best established with prospective surveys. Our aim was to ascertain the incidence of adverse events related to acupuncture treatment, as currently practised in Britain by doctors and physiotherapists."
WHAT HAPPENED
Doctors and physiotherapists who performed acupuncture reported no serious adverse events and 671 minor adverse events per 10 000 acupuncture consultations. These rates are classified as minimal
Minor adverse events were defined as "any ill-effect, no matter how small, that is unintended and non-therapeutic, even if not unexpected."
Out of 32 000 treatments, a total of 2135 so called minor events was reported, for instance such as:
"Needle lost or forgotten"
"Patient fell asleep during treatment"
"Patient forgotten in treatment room"
"Cellulitis after acupuncture treatment."
In 15 cases out of 32 000, acupuncture resulted in reduction in daily activities of the patients. In two cases, acupuncture treatment was terminated due to nausea and anxiety.
However, there was another study reporting though quite rare but very unpleasant complications after acupuncture treatment (BMJ 2001;323:486-487)
WHERE:
Foundation for Traditional Chinese Medicine, York YO24 4EY, Medical Care Research Unit, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, Sheffield Health Economics Group, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield )
-- BMJ 2001;323:486-487
WHAT:
"The York acupuncture safety study: prospective survey of 34 000 treatments by traditional acupuncturists"
WHO:
Hugh MacPherson, research director, Kate Thomas, deputy director, Stephen Walters, lecturer in medical statistics, Mike Fitter, research consultant. )
WHAT HAPPENED
The adverse event rate was as insignificant as estimated of between 0 and 1.1 per 10 000 treatments, out of 34 407 treatments.
- severe nausea
- actual fainting
- severe dizziness
- heavy sweating
- difficulty walking the next day because of stiff, painful legs;
- increase in shoulder pain for 20 minutes;
- neck and shoulder pain increase for 1 week;
- morning sickness worsened;
- diarrhoea in patient with colitis;
- constipation in patient with irritable bowel;
- temporary aggravation of neck pain
- local pain at site of needling;
- heavy bruising
- emotional outburst and anger at practitioner; feeling of panic with sensation of heat and sweatiness;
- intense emotional release, feeling manic, relaxed, rage, and confusion;
- depression with anxiety
- haematuria next day;
- headache next day;
- unwell, tired, sore throat, breathless, and achy;
- knee went weak and patient could not stand on it;
- very tired next day; 1 felt sick and exhausted; 1 severe drowsiness;
- tiredness next day with 10 hours of diarrhoea;
- rash after taking herbs;
- rash developed on abdomen a few days after treatment
CONCLUSION?
"Acupuncture is safe in the hands of competent practitioners," states Dr. Charles Vincent, professor of psychology, Clinical Risk Unit, Department of Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT
"Complications are rare and transient. Two reports in this week's issue are the first to systematically examine both the rate and nature of adverse effects of acupuncture. Both suggest that the rate of complications is remarkably low and that most complications are transient, lasting two weeks at most. Certainly the dangers of many orthodox procedures are greater, though no easy comparisons can be made."
