ATTENUATION OF THE CATECHOLAMINE RESPONSES BY ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON JEN-CHUNG POINT DURING POSTOPERATIVE RECOVERY PERIOD IN HUMANS

In this study, Jen-Chung (J-C) point was stimulated by electroacupunct ure (EA) in 10 patients, and by placebo treatment in 10 controls, imme diately after termination of inhalation for 15 min. During the postope rative recovery period, plasma catecholamine (CA) levels were assessed before (0) and 15 and 30 min after treatment. The time from cessation of inhalation to the first eye opening and to extubation did not diff er between groups. The plasma catecholamine levels increased by 30% fr om 0 to 15 min in the control group but decreased by 6% in the EA grou p. The levels at 30 min were approximately the same as at time 0. The change in catecholamine levels from 0 to 15 min was significantly lowe r (P<0.02) in the EA groups than the control group. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.