OBJECTIVETo observe the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) at Neimadian (Extra) and Neiguan (PC 6) for analgesia after thoracic surgery.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of thoracic surgery were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture (EA) group (60 cases) and a medication group (60 cases). EA was applied at Neimadian (Extra) and Neiguan (PC 6) for postoperation analgesia in the EA group, while patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) was applied in the medication group. The score of visual analogue scale (VAS), analgesia effect, safety and beta-endorphin level after the treatment in both groups were compared.

RESULTSCompared with those before the treatment, the VAS scores in every time point after surgery were decreased (all P < 0.05), which were lower in the EA group (P < 0.01). The excellent and good rates were 96.7% (58/60) and 75.0% (45/60) seperately, the analgesia effect in the EA group (2 h after operation) was superior to that in the medication group (P < 0.01). The safety degree in EA group was higher to that in the medication group (P < 0.01). Compared with that before the treatment, the beta-endorphin level in two groups after treatment was both increased, which was higher in the EA group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Neimadian (Extra) and Neiguan (PC 6) has better analgesia effect (2 h after operation) and safety than PICA on analgesia after thoracic surgery.