Acupuncture, a potentially effective treatment for heart rhythm disorders, pain and nausea, is now being studied for use after cardiac surgery at Northwestern Medicine.
ACU-Heart is a clinical trial designed to assess the feasibility of daily acupuncture in the hospital setting after open-heart surgery, which has not been examined to date,” says lead investigator, Kim L. Feingold, PhD, a cardiac psychologist and the founder and director of Cardiac Behavioral Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Dr Feingold states “We know that the mind and body are connected,” “We’re always looking for ways to improve the patient experience and reduce the emotional consequences of heart disease, which can include depression and anxiety.”In the ACU-Heart pilot trial, patients undergoing valve surgery with no prior history of atrial fibrillation, were sorted into two groups. One group received standard care after surgery and the other received daily acupuncture intervention from the day after surgery until discharge.
From the study, the research team found that acupuncture after heart surgery was linked to:
– Lower rates of post-operative atrial fibrillation
– Reduced pain, nausea, stress and anxiety
– Less time spent in intensive care
– A reduced need for anti arrhythmic medication
“It’s exciting to demonstrate the potential role of acupuncture in the cardiovascular setting,” says Dr. Feingold. “There’s more to be done, but the ACU-Heart pilot trial certainly demonstrates significant promise.” This shortened article was taken from the full article which was originally published on NM.org on September 2023.
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