[Comparison between of acupuncture and epidural anesthesia in appendectomy]

It was a clinic comparative observation of the effects between acupuncture and epidural anesthesia in appendectomy. Eighty patients with appendicitis were randomly divided into two groups, each of 40 Patients. The results were no significant difference between two groups in successful rate. It is convinced that acupuncture on Zusanli points (ST36) has analgesia. There were less respiratory depression, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmia and less amount of liquid infusion needed than that of the epidural block during operation. Furthermore, in the group of acupuncture anesthesia, the intestinal gas excreted earlier, the analgetics and antibiotics administered were less and the rate of the wound infection were reduced after operation. These postoperative effects were significantly better than the controls. As it is of clear-cut effects of anesthesia by acupuncture with main points Zusanli and auxiliary points Hegu (LI4) and less interfered life sign in the operation, thus it is desirable to use acupuncture anesthesia in appendectomy.