The effect of high and low frequency electroacupuncture in pain after lower abdominal surgery

Abstract

In the present study, we examined the effects of preoperative electroacupuncture (EA) at classical bilateral acupuncture points (Zusanli, also known as ST-36) on postoperative pain and opioid-related side effects. One hundred healthy consenting women undergoing lower abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to four treatment regimens: Group I (n=25), control; Group II (n=25), sham-EA (needle insertion without electrical stimulation); Group III (n=25), low-EA (2 Hz of electrical stimulation); and Group IV (n=25), high-EA (100 Hz of electrical stimulation). EA groups received needle insertion with or without electrical stimulation 20 min prior to anesthesia. All patients received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) of morphine postoperation. Postoperative pain was evaluated by recording (1). the time of the first required analgesic, (2). the number of PCA demands, (3). the total amount of morphine required by PCA, and (4) patients' VAS pain score. We found that the time of first analgesic requested was 10, 18, 28, and 28 min in the control, sham-, low-, and high-EA groups, respectively. During the first 24h, the total amount of morphine required was decreased by 21, 43 and 61% in the sham-, low- and high-EA groups, respectively. The incidence of nausea and dizziness during the first 24h after surgery was significantly reduced in both the low-EA and high-EA groups compared with the control and sham-EA groups. We also found that sham-EA exerts a beneficial effect with respect to its pain relieving quality but not the side effect profiles. Our findings demonstrates that preoperative treatment with low-EA and high-EA can reduce postoperative analgesic requirements and associated side effects in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery.

Effect of aquapuncture on postoperative analgesia after ovariohysterectomy in dogs

“…Acupuncture and low and high frequency EA decreased the total amount of morphine by 21, 43 and 61%, respectively during the first postoperative 24 h following lower abdominal surgery (LIN et al, 2002) and AP reduced consumption of supplemental IV morphine by 50% for four days after lower and upper abdominal surgery (KOTANI et al, 2001). In the present study, 12.5% of the animals required morphine to complement analgesia, compared to 62.5% in the CG, within 5 hours following surgery.…”

“…Abdominal surgery have been successfully performed under AP analgesia in dogs (LOPES et al, 1998;STILL, 1987;WRIGHT;MCGRATH, 1981), but this technique has more frequently been used to treat postoperative pain in dogs and humans (DI MARTINO;LIN et al, 2002;PIGNATON et al, 2007;SOUSA et al, 2012;TEIXEIRA et al, 2013).…”

Acupuncture Analgesia Research and Clinical Practice in Taiwan

“…We also found that sham-EA exerts a beneficial effect with respect to its pain relieving quality but not on the side effect profiles. Our findings demonstrate that preoperative treatment with lowand high-EA can reduce postoperative analgesic requirements and associated side effects in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery (Lin, et al, 2002).…”

Safety of Noninvasive Electrical Stimulation of Acupuncture Points During a Routine Neonatal Heel Stick

“…[12][13][14][15] Evidence suggests that acupuncture activates C-afferent fibers and A-d fibers, altering transmission of pain signals at the spinal cord, midbrain, and hypothalamus. Stimulation of A-d and C-afferent fibers in the muscle depresses nociception in the spinal cord.…”