Improving surgical outcomes with perioperative acupuncture

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Surgical interventions can be viewed as controlled car accidents, depending on what tissues and structures are involved.  Both entail somatic and visceral trauma, and result in acute pain from tissue and nerve inflammation and irritation. Opioids are commonly used to manage postoperative pain, but there are several side effects that patients prefer to avoid, including constipation, dizziness, urinary retention, and pruritis. Although acupuncture is well known for its analgesic effects, it can…