Anaesthesist. 1976 May; 25(5): 248-56.

[Electrical stimulation anaesthesia in abdominal surgery in special consideration of selective proximal vagotomie (author's transl)]

Doenicke A, Kampik G, Praetorius B, Pitterling P, GÃ¶b E, Matusczyk U.

107 abdominal operations were performed using in a combined electrostimulating anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was indued by etomidate (about 15 mg) and fentanly (about 0,2 mg). After administration of pancuronium (5-7 mg) intubation was performed. During continuous intermittent relaxation anaesthesia was maintained by a mixture of nitrous oxide/oxygen 4:2 (in poor risk patients: 3:3) and electrical stimulation at certain body-and ear-points. Electrical stimulation was done using impulse currents with frequencies of 10 to 15 Hz and a current intensity of about 40 mA. During extremly painful periods of operations 30% of the patients showed maximal heart rates and only in 5% of cases did blood pressure exceed preoperative values by about 50%. Especially in poor risk pateints the results of electro-stimulating anaesthesia are excellent. At this time, however, it should not be recommanded as a routine method for general surgery; questions concerning regulating mechanisms need to be answered first.