Clinical applications of acupuncture in anesthesia practice.

The most widely successful use of acupuncture in Western medicine has been in the treatment of chronic and intractable pain syndromes. Thus, it is especially important for the nurse anesthetist who is the practice of chronic pain management to be familiar with this treatment choice. This article provides the nurse anesthetist with basic information about the practice of acupuncture, the patient who may ask for acupuncture, application of segmental acupuncture techniques, and legislative and licensure issues.