Perioperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for improving postoperative gastrointestinal function: A randomized controlled trial / 中西医结合学报

BACKGROUND@#Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) is one of the most common complications in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Acupuncture has been used widely in gastrointestinal diseases due to its effectiveness and minimally invasive nature.@*OBJECTIVE@#This study evaluated the efficacy of using transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) during the surgery and postoperative recovery in patients with gastric and colorectal surgery for improving postoperative gastrointestinal function.@*DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS@#A total of 280 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were stratified by type of surgery (i.e., gastric or colorectal surgery) and randomly allocated into the TEAS group (group T) or the sham group (group S). Patients in group T received TEAS at LI4, PC6, ST36 and ST37. Patients in group S received pseudo-TEAS at sham acupoints. The stimulation was given from 30 min before anesthesia until the end of surgery. The same treatment was performed at 9 am on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days after surgery, until the recovery of flatus in patients.@*MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES@#The primary outcome was the time to the first bowel motion, as detected by auscultation. The secondary outcomes included the first flatus and ambulation time, changes of perioperative substance P (SP), incidence of PGD, postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and some economic indicators.@*RESULTS@#The time to first bowel motion, first flatus and first ambulation in group T was much shorter than that in group S (P < 0.01). In patients undergoing colorectal surgery, the concentration of SP was lower in group T than in group S on the third day after the operation (P < 0.05). The average incidence of PGD in all patients was 25%, and the frequency of PGD was significantly lower in group T than in group S (18.6% vs. 31.4%, respectively; P < 0.05). TEAS treatment (odds ratio = 0.498; 95% confidence interval: 0.232-0.786) and type of surgery were relevant factors for the development of PGD. Postoperative pain score and PONV occurrence were significantly lower in group T (P < 0.01). Postoperative hospitalization days and the resulting cost to patients were greatly reduced in the TEAS group (P < 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Perioperative TEAS was able to promote the recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function, reduce the incidence of PGD and PONV. The concentration of SP was decreased by TEAS treatment, which indicates that the brain-gut axis may play a role in how TEAS regulates gastrointestinal function.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900023263.

Efficacy of Acupuncture Combined with Local Anesthesia in Ischemic Stroke Patients with Carotid Artery Stenting: A Prospective Randomized Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the efficacy of electro-acupuncture (EA) or transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on perioperative cerebral blood flow (CBF) and neurological function in ischemic stroke (IS) patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS).@*METHODS@#In total, 124 consecutive IS patients were randomly allocated to the EA, TEAS, and sham groups (groups A, T, and S; 41, 42, and 41 cases, respectively) by software-derived random-number sequence. Groups A and T received EA and TEAS, respectively, at the Shuigou (GV 26) and Baihui (GV 20), Hegu (LI4) and Waiguan (TE 5) acupoints. Group S received sham EA. The stimulation was started from 30 min before surgery until the end of the operation. The primary outcome was the CBF at 30 min after surgery, which was measured by transcranial Doppler sonography. The secondary outcomes included hyperperfusion incidence and neurological function. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and General Evaluation Scale (GES) scores were recorded at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively.@*RESULTS@#Mean CBF velocity at 30 min after surgery in groups A and T was much lower than that in Group S (P < 0.05); the incidence of hyperperfusion in Groups A and T was also lower than that in group S (P <0.05). Acupuncture was an independent factor associated with reduced incidence of hyperperfusion (OR=0.042; 95% CI: 0.002-0.785; =0.034). NIHSS and GES scores improved significantly at 1 week postoperatively in Groups A and T than in Group S (P < 0.05). Relative to Group S, groups A and T exhibited significantly lower incidences of moderate pain, as well as higher incidences of satisfaction with anesthesia, at 1 day postoperatively (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#EA or TEAS administered in combination with local anesthesia during CAS can inhibit transient increases in CBF, reduce the incidence of postoperative hyperperfusion, and improve neurological function. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IOR-15007447).

Effect of transcutaneous acupoint electric stimulation on perioperative intravenous anesthesia in patients of transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impacts of transcutaneous acupoint electric stimulation on hemodynamics, anesthetic and relevant complications in patients of transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection (TPTR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety cases of the selective TPTR were randomized into a transcutaneous acupoint electric stimulation group (group T), a sham-acupoint group (group S) and a control group (group C); 30 cases in each one. In group T, the transcutaneous acupoint electric stimulation at Hegu (LI 4), Waiguan (TE 5), Jinmen (BL 63), Taichong (LR 3), Zusanli (ST 36) and Qiuxu (GB 40). In group S, the transcutaneous acupoint electric stimulation was applied to the sham-acupoints. In group C, the acupoints selected were same as those in group T, but the electrode pads were just attached on the related points with no-electric stimulation. The electric stimulation lasted from analgesic induction till the end of the operation. The endotracheal intubation was done under the induction by propofol, fentanyl and vecuronium bromide. Propofol and remifentanil were maintained till the end of operation. Blood pressure, heart rate, bispectral index (BIS) value, anesthetic and postoperative recovery situation were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The hemodynamics maintained stably in each group. In group T, the mean arterial pressure 1 min after intubation, after extubation and during directional force recovery was all lower than the other two groups respectively (all P<0.05). In group T, the effect-site concentration of fentaryl in the exposure saddle area and tumor removal stage was lower than the other two groups (all P<0.05). In 24 h after operation, 2 cases presented nausea and vomiting in group C. There were no relevant complications in the rest groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The transcutaneous acupoint electric stimulation improves the stability of hemodynamics in perioperative stage, reduces the intraoperative opi oids dosages and improves the quality of anesthetic recovery.</p>

The application of electro-acupuncture combined with sevoflurane anesthesia in neurosurgery / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of electro-acupuncture combined with sevoflurane anesthesia used in neurosurgery patients and the speed of recovery following surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty patients with supratentorial tumor resection were anesthetized with sevoflurane and randomly allocated into the complete anesthesia group (Group A) and the electro-acupuncture combined with sevoflurane group (Group B). Han's acupoint nerve stimulator with 2/100 Hz frequency was used to stimulate the points. Patients in Group B received electroacupuncture at Fengchi (GB20) toward Tianzhu (BL10) and Cuanzhu (BL2) toward Yuyao (EX-HN4) at the same side of the craniotomy before anesthesia induction. The stimulation was lasted from anesthesia induction until the end of operation. Patients in Group A were pasted with the conducting wire at the aforesaid points, but with no acupuncture or electric stimulation. All patients were induced with propofol 2 mg/kg, sufentanyl 0.3 microg/kg, and vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg, and maintained anesthesia with 2% sevoflurane. The bispectral index (BIS) was maintained ranging 40 -50. The sevoflurane was stopped inhaling at the end of the operation. The end-tidal sevoflurane concentration, minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), BIS, and the anesthesia recovery at each time point were recorded in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no statistical difference in the mean arterial pressure or the heart rate. The end-tidal concentration and MAC of sevoflurane were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A at each time point (P<0.05). The dose of sevoflurane was reduced by 8.34% +/- 1.24% in Group B when compared with that of Group A. The BIS value could be maintained ranging 40 - 50 in both groups, thus guaranteeing the anesthesia depth. The time for the spontaneous respiration recovery, the extubation time, the time for opening eyes, the time for the voluntary movement recovery, and the time for orientation recovery, and the time for leaving the operation room were significantly shorter in Group B than in Group A (P<0.01). The occurrence of dysphoria, nausea and vomiting was less in Group B than in Group A.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Electro-acupuncture combined with sevoflurane used in neurosurgery could save the dose of sevoflurane, significantly shorten the anesthesia recovery time, and improve the quality of the anesthesia recovery. It was a favorable anesthesia method.</p>

Effect of electroacupuncture on Sevoflurane anesthesia in patients undergoing resection of supratentorial tumor / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the supplementary analgesic effect of electroacupuncture and its influence on the maintenance of anesthesia and the speed of recovery of patients undergoing craniotomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty cases of supratentorial tumor resection were randomly divided into group A and group S, 40 cases in each group. All the patients were anesthetized with 2% Sevoflurane. The patients in group A received electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) and Waiguan (TE 5), Jinmen (BL 63) and Taichong (LR 3), Zusanli (ST 36) and Qiuxu (GB 40) from anesthesia beginning to the end of operation, and in group S without electroacupuncture. The end-tidal Sevoflurane concentration, minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), bispectral index (BIS) and the information during anesthesia recovery stage were recorded, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The end-tidal concentration and MAC of Sevoflurane in group A at all times were significant lower than those in group S (P<0.05, P<0.01) with a Sevoflurane saving of 9.62% on average. The BIS in group A during a few phases were higher than that in group S (all P<0.05). During anesthesia recovery stage, the time of each phase in group A was significantly shorter than that in group S (all P<0.01). No dysphoria and one case with nausea and vomiting were shown in group A, but in group S, 2 patients had dysphoria and 3 patients had nausea and vomiting.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture combined with Sevoflurane anesthesia can decrease the dosage of Sevoflurane, shorten the recovery time of anesthesia and improve the quality of anesthesia recovery of the patients undergoing resection of supratentorial tumor.</p>