Anaesthesist. 1975 Jan; 24(1): 32-8.

[Telemetric ECG data (biorhythms) during operations under acupuncture analgesia in the People's Republic of China (author's transl)]

Thoma H, Benzer H, Mayrhofer O, Pauser G.

On an educational journey to China, we were able to record and accumulate electrocardiograms during operations under acupuncture analgesia with the aid of a self-developed apparatus. To elaborate this among others the amplitude of the QRS-complex as well as the time period between two cardiac cycles were electronically measrued and registered. With examples from the comprehensive material it is possible to draw the following conclusions: 1.The patients were in conditions ranging from restlessness and irritation to weariness and drowsiness. A condition similar to that resulting from narcosis must be excluded. 2. A pre-operatively undertaken strong psychological sedation by means of drugs can be excluded with certainty. 3. The massive reaction to events such as the washing out of the operative field refutes, at least partly, our concept of "Asiatic indifference". 4. Acupuncture is not able to depress reflexes. 5. Finally, the hypothesis that acupuncture has a stabilizing effect on the circulation is not valid.