[Effects of electroacupuncture assistant general anesthesia on postoperative cognitive dysfunction of aged patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) assistant general anesthesia on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) of aged patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty senile American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grade I - III patients (more than 65 years old) with non-cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to two groups, Group A and Group B, 60 cases in each group. Patients in Group A received general anesthesia, while those in Group B received EA assistant general anesthesia. Patients in Group B received EA at Baihui (DU20), Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST36) 30 min before anesthesia induction to the end of operation. Anesthesia was induced by etomidate 0.2 - 0.3 mg/kg, fentanyl 3-5 microg/kg, cisatracurium 0.15 mg/kg in the two groups. Anesthesia maintenance was provided by sevoflurane and continuous pumping of remifentanil. Tramadol 50 mg was given 30 min before ending the operation. The scores of mini-mental state examination (MMSE), nausea and vomiting were recorded in the two groups one day before anesthesia, the 2nd, 4th, and 6th day after operation. The occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) on day 2, 4, and 6 was compared. RESULTS: The occurrence of POCD on day 2 and 4 was obviously lower in Group B than in Group A at the same time period (40.0% vs 66.7%, 13.3% vs 43.3%), showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the pre-anesthesia scores of MMSE between the two groups. The scores of MMSE on the 2nd and the 4th day were higher in Group B than in Group A (21.3 +/- 3.9 vs 18.3 +/- 3.8, 26.4 +/- 2.9 vs 22.9 +/- 3.9, P < 0.05). Compared with one day before anesthesia in the same group, the scores of MMSE were significantly different on the 2nd and the 4th day (Group A: 18.3 +/- 3.8, 22.9 +/- 3.9 vs 27.9 +/- 2.1; Group B: 21.3 +/- 3.9 vs 27.5 +/- 2.5; P < 0.05). The occurrence of post-aesthesia nausea and vomiting was lower in Group B (23.3%, 14/60) than in Group A (46.7%, 28/60) with statistical difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA assistant general anesthesia could reduce the occurrence of POCD in aged patients.

[Effects of electroacupuncture anesthesia of different frequencies on stress reaction in thyroid surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the optimal frequency of electroacupuncture for the access to the best anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty cases of optional thyroid surgery were randomly divided into group A, group B and group C, 20 cases in each group. In group A, 2 Hz/100 Hz disperse-dense wave was selected in stimulation. In group B, 2 Hz/15 Hz disperse-dense wave was selected. Group C was the control group without electric stimulation applied. Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6) were stimulated bilaterally. Cervical plexus block was produced after 15 min acupuncture. The concentration changes in plasma cortisone (COR) and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) were compared among 4 time-points, named before anesthesia (T1), before skin incision after induction (T2), thyroid traction in surgery (T3) and the end of surgery (T4). RESULTS: Group B achieved the highest significant rate of analgesia (50.0%, 10/20) and that in group C was the lowest (10.0%, 2/20). COR content was the highest at T2 in group A and that was the lowest at T3 in group B. At the end of surgery, COR content was up the maximum in 3 groups, but still COR content was the lowest in group B in comparison. The plasma beta-EP content decreased apparently at T3 and T4 in group B as compared with the value before (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In electroacupuncture-assisted anesthesia, 2 Hz/15 Hz disperse-dense wave achieves the optimal anesthesia compared with 2 Hz/100 Hz disperse-dense wave, and moreover inhibits stress reaction induced by anesthesia surgery.