Open-Label Randomized Clinical Trial to Assess the Effects of Preoperative Acupuncture in High Anxiety Patients Undergoing Total Knee or Hip Arthroplasty.

Preoperative state anxiety is a known predisposing factor for enhanced postoperative pain and hindered recovery following total knee or hip replacement. Acupuncture administered preoperatively has been associated with reduced anxiety in surgical studies, yet evidence of its efficacy in the orthopedic surgical setting is limited. This study investigated the effects of preoperative acupuncture on preoperative anxiety and pain and compared acute postoperative pain between acupuncture and control patient groups.

Immunologic effects of hand-assisted surgery on peritoneal macrophages: comparison to open and standard laparoscopic approaches.

Background: Exaggerated activation of peritoneal immunity after major abdominal surgery activates peritoneal macrophages (PMs), which may lead to a relative local immunosuppression. Although laparoscopy (L) is known to elicit a smaller attenuation of peritoneal host defenses, compared with open (O) surgery, effects of the hand-assisted (HA) approach have not been investigated to date.

Methods: Eighteen pigs underwent a transabdominal nephrectomy via O, HA, or L approach.