Clinical observation of auricular point combined therapy in patients with transvaginal oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer

Objective To evaluate the analgesic effect, the incidence of adverse reactions and the influence on the inflammatory factors of the auricular point combined therapy in patients with transvaginal oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Methods Total 78 cases of IVF-ET in Wenzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine from January, 2013 to December, 2014 were selected, and were randomly divided into treatment group and control group. The control group was given propofol anesthesia, while the treatment group received additional ear acupuncture therapy. The ovulation time, recovery time, postoperative pain score and propofol dosage, laboratory egg rate, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, clinical pregnancy rate, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the incidence of adverse events were analyzed and evaluated. Results There was no significant difference in the ovulation time between the two groups (P>0.05). The recovery time, propofol dosage and postoperative pain score in the treatment group were superior to the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in egg rate, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, clinical pregnancy rate and abortion rate between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α level between the two groups before the treatment (P>0.05). After the treatment, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF increased obviously in both groups, but those levels in the treatment group was significantly lower than those in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The incidence of body movement was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of vertigo, respiratory depression and nausea and vomiting between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Auricular acupuncture combined with anesthesia can reduce the dosage of western medicine, enhance the analgesic effect, reduce the incidence of complications, reduce the incidence of adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, reduce the expression of inflammatory factors, reduce the stress response.