Reversal by acupuncture of cardiovascular depression induced with morphine during halothane anaesthesia in dogs

The cardiovascular effects of morphine sulphate and/or acupuncture by means of electrocautery at Jen Chung (Go-26) were studied in 35 dogs. All animals were maintained under anaesthesia with halothane 0.75 per cent supplemented by the intravenous administration of succinylcholine to allow controlled ventilation during a two hour period of monitoring. Cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, central venous pressure, total peripheral resistance, [H+] (pH) PaCO2, PaO2 and base deficit were measured in each dog. Morphine 0.5 mg . kg-1, administered alone as a single bolus, significantly (P less than 0.05) decreased cardiac output, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and significantly increased stroke volume and pulse pressure in dogs under halothane anaesthesia. Acupuncture by electrocautery alone induced a significant increase in cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure with a significant decrease in total peripheral resistance following halothane. Acupuncture at Jen Chung (Go-26) for 10 minutes following the intravenous administration of morphine caused a significant increase in cardiac output, heart rate and mean arterial pressure with a significant decrease in central venous pressure and total peripheral resistance during halothane anaesthesia. The depressant effect of morphine on cardiac output, heart rate and mean arterial pressure in dogs under halothane anaesthesia appears to be reversed by acupuncture by electrocautery at Jen Chung (Go-26). Stimulation of this acupuncture locus could be helpful in resuscitating patients whose cardiovascular system is depressed by morphine and/or halothane anaesthesia.