Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis (PVE) as a complication of Acupuncture

[Guest guest]

7/4/2009

I am interested in feedback on known risks to doing acupuncture on patients that

have received prosthetic heart valves. Please provide any references or personal

experiences.

The link below is for a patient that also had Marfan Syndrome, I am wondering if

the recommendation for prophylactic antibiotic prior to administering

acupuncture is a valid general precaution as well.

Thanks, Jim

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11603611

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim:

 

It looks like most of the problem is with auricular acupuncture, especially with

needles left in situ.  Infection to the cartilage of the ear is serious for

anyone.  But just like dental surgery poses additional risks for heart patients,

it seems ear acupuncture may as well.

 

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.  This is an experience none of us

wants to have. 

 

Here  are some more articles:

 

Scroll down to " Short Reports " : Acupuncture needles as a source of bacterial

endocarditis.  This patient had acupuncture needles left in the ear in situ and

they became infected.     

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/pdf_extract/287/6388/326

  

A follow-up comment to the above article:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/pdf_extract/287/6393/689-a

 

 Acupuncture in Patients with Valvular Heart Disease and Prosthetic Valves (full

text and has author's email).  Good review.

http://www.abbeypractice.co.uk/papers/stellon_aim_21(3)_087_091.pdf

 

Apparent Adverse Outcome of Acupuncture (See Discussion)

 

http://www.jabfm.org/cgi/reprint/15/3/246.pdf

 

best,

Gena

 

 

 

________________________________

" James P Slaymaker, L Ac " <acupuncture2heal

 

Saturday, July 4, 2009 1:52:23 PM

Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis (PVE) as a complication of

Acupuncture

 

 

 

 

 

7/4/2009

I am interested in feedback on known risks to doing acupuncture on patients that

have received prosthetic heart valves. Please provide any references or personal

experiences.

The link below is for a patient that also had Marfan Syndrome, I am wondering if

the recommendation for prophylactic antibiotic prior to administering

acupuncture is a valid general precaution as well.

Thanks, Jim

 

http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/11603611

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Jim.

Thank you for your insightful observation. Patients with prosthetic valve

endocarditis are susceptible to infection so antibiotics shots may lower the

chance of complication.

 

However, I doubt whether it is viable or practical to be too concerned about

this matter. We as practitioner have no way to tell if our next patients

suffering from some particular diseases that need medications. Even if we are

aware of the said condition, we cannot and should not provide medications so

nothing can't be done.

 

I guess our best bet is well-covered by insurance and ask the patients to tick

every major diseases he or she has on the intake form. Also watch out for every

discomfort/abnormalities our patients manifest during treatment.

 

Ear acupuncture is never considered a mainstream acupuncture to me. Besides, I

only use seeds to adhere to the points, They last longer and of course will not

cause any forseeable damages to patients.

 

Hope that helps.

 

SUNG, Yuk-ming