[Electroacupuncture of both single- and multi-acupoints promotes recovery of gastrointestinal function in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of single-acupoint Zusanli (ST36) and multi-acupoints Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37) and Neiguan (PC6) in promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal movement in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) patients undergoing general anesthesia. METHODS: A total of 70 LC patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] grade I and II) were recruited and randomly divided into control (n＝23), single ST36 (n＝23) and ST36＋ST37＋PC6 (n＝24) groups. The patients in the control group only received routine basic treatments (postoperative fasting and water deprivation, intravenous drip of biotics, water-electrolyte and acid-base balancing, oxygen uptake, etc). EA (10 Hz, 5 mA, 30 min every time) was applied to the abovementioned single-acupoint or multi-acupoints groups before, and 4, 22, 34 and 46 h after the operation. The time-points of postoperative borborygmus recovery, first anal exhaust and defecation, post-operative abdominal distension (mild, moderate and severe), nausea and vomiting (grade Ⅰ， Ⅱ， Ⅲ and Ⅳ) at 6, 24 and 48 h after surgery were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the time of borborygmus recovery, first anal exhaust and defecation were markedly earlier in both single ST36 and ST36＋ST37＋PC6 groups (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001). The number of patients who had mild plus moderate abdominal distention, and nausea (grade Ⅱ＋Ⅲ) at 24 h after ope-ration was significantly lower in both single ST36 and ST36＋ST37＋PC6 groups than in the control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two EA groups in the time of borborygmus recovery, first anal exhaust and defecation, and in the number of patients with mild plus moderate abdominal distention and those with nausea (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA of both single ST36 and ST36＋ST37＋PC6 can promote gastrointestinal function recovery in LC patients, without remarkable difference between them.

[Effect of combined acupuncture-medicine anesthesia in thyroid nodule ablation and its effect on serum ß-endorphin].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anesthetic effect of combined acupuncture-medicine anesthesia in microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules and its effect on serum ß-endorphin. METHODS: A total of 60 patients who met the inclusion criteria and received microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group, with 30 patients in each. The patients in the treatment group were given combined acupuncture-medicine anesthesia, and those in the control group were given intravenous anesthesia. The two groups were compared in terms of the sedative and analgesic effects of anesthesia, amount of anesthetics used, incidence rate of intraoperative snore and respiratory depression, and change in serum ß-endorphin level before anesthesia, before surgery, and after the surgery. RESULTS: Both groups obtained satisfactory anesthetic effects. Compared with the control group, the sedation score, the amounts of fentanyl and propofol used, the incidence rates of intraoperative snore and respiratory depression in the treatment group were obviously lower (P<0.05, P<0.01). The treatment group had an increase in serum ß-endorphin level before surgery and at the end of surgery (P<0.05), while the control group showed no significant change in serum ß-endorphin level at each time point. CONCLUSION: In microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules, combined acupuncture-medicine anesthesia has good sedative and analgesic effects and can reduce the amounts of anesthetics used as well as the incidence rates of intraoperative snore and respiratory depression. The analgesic effect of acupuncture anesthesia is associated with increased ß-endorphin secretion.