[Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation relieves post-operative nausea and vomiting possibly by reducing...

To observe the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) of different acupoint combinations on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and serum motilin (MTL) content in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, so as to provide evidence for clinical selection of suitable acupoint compatibility.

A total of 140 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery were randomly divided into general anesthesia (GA) control, TG₂ ［Neiguan (PC6) + Hegu (LI4)］, TG₃ ［PC6 + LI4 + Zusanli (ST36)］, and TG₄ ［PC6 + LI4 + ST36 + Sanyinjiao (SP6)］ groups, with 35 cases in each group. Patients of the TG₂, TG₃ and TG₄ groups received TEAS (2 Hz/100 Hz, 3-8 mA) of the above mentioned acupoint (bilateral) groups for 30 min before the induction of anesthesia until the end of the operation. Patients of the GA control group received intravenous injection of Midazolam, Sufentanil, Propofol, Rocuronium Bromide, etc. The blood sample (4 mL) from the right median cubital vein was collected at the time of patient's entry, 12 and 24 h after surgery, respectively, for measuring MTL concentration by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The incidence of early and late PONV and changes of PONV degree within 24 h after surgery were recorded.

The serum MTL concentrations were significantly decreased at 12 h after surgery in all the 4 groups (P<0.05), and decreased at 24 h after surgery in GA and TG2 groups vs their own pre-surgery (P < 0.05), and considerably higher at both 12 and 24 h after surgery in the TG₂, TG₃ and TG₄ groups than in the GA control group (P<0.05), and also evidently higher in the TG₃ and TG₄ groups than in the TG₂ group (P<0.05). The incidence of PONV was significantly lower in the TG₂, TG₃ and TG₄ groups than in the GA control group in the early and late periods (except TG₂ group) of surgery (P<0.05). The number of patients with PONV grade Ⅰ was significantly larger in the TG₂, TG₃ and TG₄ groups than in the GA control group at 24 h after surgery (P<0.05), suggesting a mild PONV in more patients undergoing TEAS.

TEAS has a preventive effect on PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, which may be related to its effect in reducing serum MTL concentration. The preventive effect of TEAS of PC6 + LI4 + ST36 and PC6 +LI4 + ST36 + SP6 is similar and better than TG₂ (two acupoints) group.