Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1994 Jan; 14(1): 10-3, 3.

[A study on combined acupuncture and enflurane anesthesia for craniotomy]

Wang BG, Wang EZ, Chen XZ.

Beijing Tiantan Hospital.

The reinforcing effect of transcutaneous acupoint electric stimulation (TAES) with enflurane anesthesia during craniotomy was studied. 110 neurosurgical patients were randomly divided into three groups. Anesthesia was maintained with enflurane in group A (n = 40); in group B, enflurane anesthesia was supplemented by TAES with Han's acupoint nerve stimulator (HANS) at Hegu, Yuyao and Fengchi points on the operated side (n = 40); in group C, enflurane anesthesia was supplemented by TAES and scalp infiltration with 0.5% procaine (n = 30). The results showed that the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of enflurane in group B and C decreased 37.8-47.0% and 42.1-66.1% respectively than that in group A. The hemodynamics was more stable during operation, and the patients recovered faster after operation in group B and C. It was concluded that TAES with HANS significantly potentiated the anesthetic effect and decreased the side effects of enflurane during operation, and that the triple combination of TAES, enflurane and scalp infiltration with procaine proved to be a better anesthetic method for craniotomy.