Anaesthesist. 1976 May; 25(5): 197-203.

[Acupuncture analgesia in China (author's transl)]

Spoerel WE.

As part of an agreement between the Governments of the People's Republic of China and Canada, 10 Canadian Anaesthetists visited China for six weeks during April and May 1974. The delegation observed 87 surgical operations and 19 dental procedures conducted under acupuncture analgesia in 17 large hospital in Peking, Schichiachuang, Nanking, Shanghai and Canton. In this report, observations on acupuncture analgesia made during this visit are presented as well as information obtained in group discussions with Chinese physicians. In the author's opinion, the technique was successful in about 80% of the cases seen; these patients were awake during surgery without visible distress and exhibited a remarkable degree of analgesia immediately after surgery. However, in China, acupuncture analgesia is still considered in the experimental stage and only used in a limited number of standardized, elective surgical procedures, where confidence and the success of this technique have been established. For the successful use of this technique, patient and surgeon must co-operate fully. Acupuncture analgesia poses considerable limitations on the surgeon and requires careful surgical technique; the patient's co-operation must be assured by a suitable preparation. It appears, that acupuncture analgesia should be seen as an alternative to local anaesthesia rather than general anaesthesia; the latter is only used to a limited extent in China. In our present anaesthetic practice, acupuncture would appear to be of only very limited use, however, a further study of this phenomenon should contribute to our knowledge of the function of the nervous system.