[Effect of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangqiu (ST 34) combined with general anesthesia on pain and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic operation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) combined with general anesthesia (acupuncture analgesia combined with general anesthesia) on postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting and exhausted defecation symptoms in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic operation. METHODS: Sixty patients with gynecological laparoscopic operation were randomly divided into TAES group and control group, with 30 cases in each group. Patients of the control group received simple general anesthesia and those of the TAES group were treated with general anesthesia and TAES of bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangqiu (ST 34) . Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used for measuring the patients' pain reaction at 8 h, 24 h and 72 h after surgery. Symptoms of patients' nausea and vomiting, post-operation exhaust and defecation time were recorded after operation. RESULTS: The VAS scores at time-points of 8 h, 24 h and 72 h and nausea level in the TAES group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The vomiting severity of the TAES group was also relatively lower in comparison with the control group, but without significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The post-operation exhaust and defecation time of patients in the TAES group apparently appeared earlier than those of patients in the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: TAES combined with general anesthesia is effective in reducing post-operative pain and nausea, and improving gastrointestinal function in patients undergoing laparoscopic operation.