OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects on analgesia, tranquilization and prevention of abortion syndrome of artificial abortion operation treated with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) with different acupoint combination and explore the optimal acupoint combination of TEAS in artificial abortion operation.

METHODSTwo hundred patients intended to artificial operation were randomized into No.1 group[Sanyinjiao (SP 6) + Zusanli (ST 36)], No.2 group[Sanyinjiao (SP 6) + Diji (SP 8)], No.3 group[Sanyinjiao (SP 6) + Taichong (LR 3)], No.4 group (cervical blockage anesthesia with lidocaine) and No.5 group (blank group, without any analgesia measure applied), 40 cases in each one. In the No.1, No.2 and No.3 groups, Sanyinjiao (SP 6) was the main acupoint, combined with Zusanli (ST 36), Dijin (SP 8) and Taichong (LR 3) respectively. TEAS was given 30 min before the operation till the end of operation. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation during operation, as well as bleeding amount were observed in the five groups. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was observed during and 30 min after operation, and Ramsay score was observed during operation. Cervical relaxation degree and the incidence of artificial abortion syndrome were recorded.

RESULTSFor VAS score during and 30 min after operation and Ramsay score during operation, the differences were significant statistically in the No. 1, No.2, No.3 and No.4 groups as compared with the No.5 group (<0.01,<0.05). The results in the No.2 group were better than those in the No.1, No.3 and No.4 groups (all<0.05). For cervical relaxationdegree, the result in the No.2 group was better than that in each of the rest groups (<0.01,<0.05). For artificial abortion syndrome, the incidences in the No.2 and No.3 groups were lower than those in the No.4 and No.5 groups (all<0.05). For bleeding amount and hemodynamic changes, the differences were not significant statistically among the five groups (all>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTEAS apparently reduces pain score during and 30 min after artificial abortion operation and achieves the satisfactory tranguilization effects. The combination of Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Diji (SP 8) achieves the optimal effect of analgesia, tranquilization, dilating cervix and preventing from artificial abortion syndrome in the operation.