Postpartum recovery outcomes following caesarean delivery with electroacupuncture stimulation at Li4 and Sp6 acupoints
General Medicine, 2024, 26(6), 59-64.
N. Azizah1,6, B. Santoso2, Abdurachman3, H. Badriyah Hidayati4, A. Imandiri5, R. Rosyidah6, R. Dwi Jayanti7
1,2,3,4 Doctoral Program of Medical Science Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University – Surabaya, Indonesia
5 Faculty of Vocational Studies, Airlangga University – Surabaya
6 Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Science, Universitas Muhammadiyah – Sidoarjo, Indonesia
7 Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga – Surabaya, Indonesia
Abstract. Background: The post-Cesarean section physical recovery phase can cause physiological stress and fear brought on by the incision wound’s potentially affecting patient mobility. Pharmacological therapy is sometimes contraindicated for postpartum cesarean section patients, thus necessitating alternative nonpharmacological therapies. Objective: To assess the quality of recovery through electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at specific points LI4, SP6, and a combination of LI4 & SP6 at frequencies of 30, 50, and 100 Hz in postpartum cesarean section patients. Material and methods: A total of 180 postpartum cesarean section patients who satisfied the inclusion requirements were split into intervention and control groups. The postpartum Cesarean section recovery was measured using the QoR-15 at 30 minutes, 24 hours, and 48 hours after electroacupuncture intervention with frequencies of 30, 50, and 100 Hz. Results: Comparing the electroacupuncture intervention group to the control group, it was shown that the use of frequencies of 30, 50, and 100 Hz at sites LI4, SP6, and the combination of LI4&SP6 improved the quality of recovery after a postpartum Cesarean section considerably. Conclusion: This study concludes that electroacupuncture intervention in postpartum cesarean section patients can improve the quality of recovery. The study’s findings suggest that electroacupuncture treatments following a Cesarean section can enhance the Cesarean section patient’s quality of recovery.
Key words: electroacupuncture, LI4, SP6, Cesarean section/postpartum recovery, QoR-15
Address for correspondence: Budi Santoso, e-mail: budi.santoso@fk.unair.ac.id