The Effect of Moxibustion at the Dazhui Point on Hypothermia and Maternal Comfort During Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

TL;DR

Preoperative moxibustion at the Dazhui acupuncture point reduces intraoperative hypothermia incidence (62.5% vs 84.4%) and improves thermal comfort in cesarean patients under spinal anesthesia compared to sham moxibustion. No adverse neonatal effects were observed.

Key findings

• Hypothermia incidence significantly lower with moxibustion (62.50% vs 84.38%, p=0.048)
• Core temperature remained consistently higher in moxibustion group from 10 minutes after surgery start through operating room departure
• Shivering occurrence was reduced in intervention group (43.75% vs 68.75%) and thermal comfort scores were higher (87.19 vs 78.75)
• No significant differences in Apgar scores, hospital stay, or postoperative complications between groups

Why this matters at the bedside

Describes a non-pharmacological, low-risk intervention that may serve as an adjunctive thermoregulation strategy during cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia, potentially reducing hypothermia-related complications in obstetric patients.