Present status of cesarean section under acupuncture anesthesia in China

(1) The present status of acupuncture anesthesia for cesarean section in China was presented. (2) Data were divided into two groups by the period, one group containing 24271 cases from 1975 to 1980 in 18 provinces and the other containing 16649 cases from 1981 to 1987 in 5 provinces. The successful rates were 92.1% and 98.9%, and the combined rates of excellent and good degrees were 74.5% and 87.1% in the former and the latter group, respectively. Thus, the effectiveness was significantly elevated in the latter group. (3) Physiological parameters under acupuncture anesthesia were compared with those under epidural anesthesia and local anesthesia. In acupuncture anesthesia, blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration were stable during operation, and blood loss was less than in epidural or local anesthesia. Neither complication nor anesthetic accident occurred during operation under acupuncture anesthesia. The use of acupuncture anesthesia for cesarean section was very safe not only for mother but also for her fetus. (4) Acupuncture anesthesia could be a good anesthetic method for cesarean section.