Survey of Adverse Events following Acupuncture

White, Adrian; Hayhoe, Simon; Ernst, Edzard

doi:10.1136/aim.15.2.67

Cited by 28 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Similar follow-up may be beneficial in future studies on TrP-DN. The definition used in the current study was chosen to be capable of identifying mild and significant events, 33 35 Further studies may use an alternative system of reporting to account for events considered 'not adverse'. Problems can also arise due to the lack of consistency in the terms used for recording recording AEs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Adverse events following trigger point dry needling: a prospective survey of chartered physiotherapists

Brady

McEvoy

Dommerholt

et al. 2013

Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy

124

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…33 This was chosen to include mild events and events that occurred through error. 28 Based on severity, AEs were sub-classified as 'significant' or 'mild'.…”

Section: Methods Definitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse events following trigger point dry needling: a prospective survey of chartered physiotherapists

Brady

McEvoy

Dommerholt

et al. 2013

Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…13 This definition was used both in order to identify events that occurred through error but were not reactions to acupuncture, and in order to include minor events such as bleeding, not just serious events, even when these may have been an expected consequence of needling. We decided not to record unintended beneficial or pleasant events.…”

Section: Definitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey of Adverse Events following Acupuncture (Safa): A Prospective Study of 32,000 Consultations

White

Hayhoe

Hart³

et al. 2001

Acupunct Med

Self Cite

167

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Acupuncture is increasingly used, so it is important to establish whether its benefits outweigh its risks. Numerous case reports of adverse events show that acupuncture is not free of risk, but accurate data from prospective investigations is scarce. A prospective survey was undertaken using intensive event monitoring. Forms were developed for reporting minor events each month and significant events as they occurred. The sample size was calculated to identify any adverse events that occurred more frequently than once in 10,000 consultations. Acupuncturists were recruited from two professional organisations in the UK. Seventy-eight acupuncturists, all doctors or physiotherapists, reported a total of 2178 events occurring in 31,822 consultations, an incidence of 684 per 10,000 consultations. The most common minor adverse events were bleeding, needling pain, and aggravation of symptoms; aggravation was followed by resolution of symptoms in 70% of cases. There were 43 significant minor adverse events reported, a rate of 14 per 10,000, of which 13 (30%) interfered with daily activities. One patient suffered a seizure (probably reflex anoxic) during acupuncture, but no adverse event was classified as serious. Avoidable events included forgotten patients, needles left in patients, cellulitis and moxa burns. In conclusion, the incidence of adverse events following acupuncture performed by doctors and physiotherapists can be classified as minimal; some avoidable events do occur. Acupuncture seems, in skilled hands, one of the safer forms of medical intervention.

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“…2 The term 'significant event' was also suggested in order to indicate those events that are 'unusual, novel, dangerous, significantly inconvenient or requiring further information'. 13 Examples of significant events included needling problems (broken or forgotten needle, moxa burns), systemic effects (faint, convulsion, drowsiness causing hazard eg on the road, severe nausea) and symptoms (unexpected or prolonged aggravation). A 'serious' adverse event is clearly defined by its consequences:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Cumulative Review of the Range and Incidence of Significant Adverse Events Associated with Acupuncture

2004

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Objective To summarise the range and frequency of significant adverse events associated with acupuncture in order to provide evidence on which to base continuing efforts to improve the safety of acupuncture practice. Methods Searches were conducted of computerised databases, previous reviews of case reports, population surveys, prospective surveys of acupuncture practice and relevant sections of textbooks for primary and secondary reports to indicate the range of significant adverse events associated with acupuncture. Data from prospective surveys of acupuncture were combined to estimate the incidence of serious adverse events. Results A total of 715 adverse events was included. There were 90 primary reports of trauma, and 186 secondary reports; the most common were pneumothorax and injury to the central nervous system. Infection accounted for 204 primary reports and 91 secondary reports. Over 60% of these cases were hepatitis B. The next most common infection was of the external ear, as a complication of auricular acupuncture. The 144 miscellaneous events mainly comprised seizures and drowsiness judged severe enough to cause a traffic hazard. There were 12 primary reports of deaths. According to the evidence from 12 prospective studies which surveyed more than a million treatments, the risk of a serious adverse event with acupuncture is estimated to be 0.05 per 10 000 treatments, and 0.55 per 10 000 individual patients. Conclusions The risk of serious events occurring in association with acupuncture is very low, below that of many common medical treatments. The range of adverse events reported is wide and some events, specifically trauma and some episodes of infection, are likely to be avoidable.

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Survey of Adverse Events following Acupuncture

Cited by 28 publications

References 8 publications

Adverse events following trigger point dry needling: a prospective survey of chartered physiotherapists

Adverse events following trigger point dry needling: a prospective survey of chartered physiotherapists

Survey of Adverse Events following Acupuncture (Safa): A Prospective Study of 32,000 Consultations

A Cumulative Review of the Range and Incidence of Significant Adverse Events Associated with Acupuncture

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