ELECTROACUPUNCTURE IN ANESTHESIA FOR HYSTERECTOMY

We have studied the effects of electroacupuncture at classical acupunc ture points, applied before and during surgery in patients undergoing hysterectomy, on postoperative pain and metabolic stress responses in a prospective, randomized and patient-blinded manner. Fifty otherwise healthy women were allocated randomly to receive or not receive electr oacupuncture. Electroacupuncture was begun 20 min before skin incision and continued to the end of surgery. All patients received similar ge neral anaesthesia and all received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after operation. Postoperative pain in the two groups was evaluated by recording analgesic requirements by PCA and by pain-rating performed by patients and nursing staff. There were no significant differences b etween the two groups in postoperative analgesic requirements, pain-ra ting or metabolic stress responses.