Introduction: Brain contusions can range from mild to severe. In recent years, complementaryand alternative therapies have attracted attention as adjunctive strategies to support patientrecovery. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acupressure on arterial oxygen saturationand end-tidal carbon dioxide levels in mechanically ventilated patients with brain injury.Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in ۲۰۱۹ at the Intensive Care Unit ofAyatollah Kashani Hospital in Shahrekord, Iran. A total of ۶۴ patients admitted to the intensivecare unit following brain injury were enrolled using convenience sampling. Participants wererandomly assigned to either the intervention or control group using simple randomization withcolored cards. Baseline demographic characteristics, oxygen saturation, and EtCO₂ values wererecorded for both groups. In the intervention group, acupressure was applied to the Pericardium-۶(P۶) point on both wrists for ۱۰ minutes, twice daily, over two consecutive days. The controlgroup received pressure at a non-acupoint following the same schedule. Oxygen saturationand EtCO₂ were measured at multiple time intervals using pulse oximetry and capnography.Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version ۲۱), and the data were analyzed with anindependent t-test, a chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test.Results:
Oxygen saturation levels on both intervention days, as well as ۱۲ hours after completion,were significantly higher in the acupressure group compared with the control group (MD = ۷.۷%,۹۵% CI: ۷.۰–۸.۴, d = ۵.۱۰, P < ۰.۰۱). EtCO₂ values also differed substantially between the groupsduring the intervention period (MD = ۱۶.۰ mmHg, ۹۵% CI: ۱۲.۵–۱۹.۵, d = ۱.۳۵, P < ۰.۰۴), withthe difference remaining significant at the ۱۲-hour follow-up (MD = ۱۶.۰ mmHg, ۹۵% CI: ۱۱.۸–۲۰.۲, d = ۱.۴۸, P < ۰.۰۰۳).Conclusion: The results showed that
Acupressure improves oxygen saturation and stabilizesEtCO₂ levels in mechanically ventilated patients with brain injury. These findings suggest thatacupressure may serve as an effective complementary approach in the management of criticallyill patients with neurological injuries.
