Clinical evaluation of electrostimulation anaesthesia for hysterectomy

A prospective randomized study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of electrostimulation anaesthesia (ESA) when compared with neurolept anaesthesia (NLA). One hundred patients scheduled for hysterectomy received either ESA or NLA. Higher levels of mean arterial pressure and heart rate in the ESA group make this technique less suitable for patients with a history of arterial hypertension. A higher dose of muscle relaxants was used in the ESA group. Measured stress variables like plasma glucose, cortisol, and iron indicate maintenance of the stress response during ESA. The postoperative questionnaire revealed intraoperative recall in 12% of ESA patients. We conclude that "pure" ESA based on a N2O regimen should be avoided.