Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Stress Response during Intubation and Extubation in Patients Undergoing Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial
Yu Z, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Zhao X, Wei H, He S, Liu J, Liu T · Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · 2021 September 30
DOI 10.1155/2021/1098915
Objective
To investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on the stress response during intubation and extubation in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.
Conclusions
Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation maintains hemodynamic stability, reduces the stress response during intubation and extubation, improves the quality of anesthesia recovery, and decreases postoperative complications in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.
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Insights
Electrical stimulation at acupuncture points reduced airway-management stress and improved recovery after minimally invasive lung surgery.
Patients undergoing minimally invasive lung-lobe surgery were randomly assigned to receive electrical stimulation at acupuncture points on both arms from before anaesthesia until surgery ended, or to receive no stimulation. Researchers compared cardiovascular responses and blood stress-hormone levels during breathing-tube insertion and removal, alongside anaesthetic drug use, sedation and waking measures, removal of the breathing tube, and postoperative complications.
Compared with no stimulation, acupuncture-point stimulation produced more stable cardiovascular measures and lower stress-hormone responses during insertion and removal of the breathing tube. It also reduced anaesthetic medication requirements, improved the quality and speed of recovery from anaesthesia, and was associated with fewer postoperative complications.
