Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation with midnight-noon ebb-flow acupoint selection on postoperative delirium in patients undergoing radical resection of colorectal cancer / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation with midnight-noon ebb-flow acupoint selection on postoperative delirium (POD) in the patients undergoing radical resection of colorectal cancer.Methods:A total of 93 patients of either sex, aged ≥18 yr, with body mass index <30 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅱor Ⅲ, scheduled for elective radical resection of colorectal cancer under general anesthesia, were divided into 3 groups ( n=31 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), common TEAS group (group CT), and midnight-noon ebb-flow acupoint selection TEAS group (group MT). The patients received TEAS at bilateral Hegu, Quchi and Shousanli acupoints at 6: 00 in group MT and at 18: 00 in group CT on the day of operation and 1-3 days after surgery, with a frequency of 2/100 Hz, disperse-dense waves, intensity the maximum current that could be tolerated, and each TEAS lasted for 30 min. In group C, only the electrodes were pasted at the same acupoints without electric current at 6: 00 am. The POD was evaluated by the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) at 1, 3 and 5 days after operation (T 1-3). Blood samples were collected for determination of serum interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations at 1 day before operation and at T 1. The time to first flatus and defection and adverse reactions after operation were recorded. Results:Compared with group C, the CAM scores at each time point and incidence of POD were significantly decreased, the concentrations of IL-1β, TNF-a and IL-6 in serum were decreased at T 1, the time to the first flatus and defecation was shortened, and the incidence of abdominal distension after surgery was decreased in MT and CT groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group CT, the CAM scores at T 3 and incidence of POD were significantly decreased, the concentrations of TNF-a and IL-6 at T 1 were decreased, and the time to first defecation after operation was shortened in group MT ( P<0.05). Conclusions:TEAS guided by midnight-noon ebb-flow acupoint selection provides better efficacy than common TEAS in decreasing the risk of POD in the patients undergoing radical resection of colorectal cancer, which is helpful for the early postoperative recovery of patients.