Objective: To observe the effect of preemptive analgesia of electroacupuncture(EA) for patients undergoing thoracic operation. Methods: 54 adult ASA (American Standards for Assessing the State of the Patient of American Anesthesia Association) grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ patients undergoing thoracic operation were randomly divided into three groups. The single blind method was used in the study. Patients in group A (n=18) were given with EA by using Han’s Acupoint Nerve Stimulator(HANS) for stimulating Xiayifeng point and Sanyangluo (SJ 8) to Ximen (PC 4; 2/15Hz, 2~4 mA and 15~ 20 min) first, then given with inhalational anesthetic (enflurane) and intravenous administration of fentany 2 μg/kg/hr, vecuronium 0.12 mg/kg/0.5 hr and propofol 2 mg/kg, During operation, HANS stimulation was given continuously, and combined with vecuronium 0.12 mg/kg. In group B (n=18), acupoint surface electrical stimulation (without acupuncture) combined with anesthetics (being same to those of group A) was given. In group C (n=18), only anesthetics were used. Then, the number of patients needing intramuscular injection of dolantin and the average doses in 3 groups were observed at 0~4 hr, 4~8 hr, 8~12 hr, 12~16 hr, 16~20 hr and 20~24 hr after operation. Results: The average dose of the injected dolantin in Group C was significantly higher than those of group A and B(P<0.001). 0~4 hr, 4~8 hr, 8~12 hr, 12~16 hr and 16~20 hr after operation, the number of patients needing intramuscular injection of dolantin in group A, B and C were 2, 2 and 9; 1, 2 and 7; 1, 2 and 6; and 1, 3 and 6 respectively. It is clear that the number of patients needing dolantin of group C is evidently more than those of group A and B (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture stimulation conducted before thoracotomy has a preemptive analgesia effect.
Objective: To study the effect of electroacupuncture on minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of enflurane. Methods: Fifty adult ASA grade Ⅰ~Ⅱ patients undergoing abdominal operation were randomly divided into group A (n=25, enhalating enflurane alone) and group B (n=25, enhalating enflurane plus electroacupuncture). MAC was determined according to Egger’s method. Xiayifeng point and Sanyangluo (SJ 8) were punctured and stimulated with HANS (2/15 Hz, 2~4 mA, sparse dense waves, 15~20 min). Results: The MAC of group A was 1.67 Vol% and that group B was 1.15 Vol%. The difference between two groups was very significant(P<0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with enhalation of enflurane anesthesia for abdominal operation can effectively lower the minimal alveolar concentration of enflurane.