OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electro-acupuncture combined with sevoflurane anesthesia used in neurosurgery patients and the speed of recovery following surgery.

METHODSEighty patients with supratentorial tumor resection were anesthetized with sevoflurane and randomly allocated into the complete anesthesia group (Group A) and the electro-acupuncture combined with sevoflurane group (Group B). Han's acupoint nerve stimulator with 2/100 Hz frequency was used to stimulate the points. Patients in Group B received electroacupuncture at Fengchi (GB20) toward Tianzhu (BL10) and Cuanzhu (BL2) toward Yuyao (EX-HN4) at the same side of the craniotomy before anesthesia induction. The stimulation was lasted from anesthesia induction until the end of operation. Patients in Group A were pasted with the conducting wire at the aforesaid points, but with no acupuncture or electric stimulation. All patients were induced with propofol 2 mg/kg, sufentanyl 0.3 microg/kg, and vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg, and maintained anesthesia with 2% sevoflurane. The bispectral index (BIS) was maintained ranging 40 -50. The sevoflurane was stopped inhaling at the end of the operation. The end-tidal sevoflurane concentration, minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), BIS, and the anesthesia recovery at each time point were recorded in the two groups.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the mean arterial pressure or the heart rate. The end-tidal concentration and MAC of sevoflurane were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A at each time point (P<0.05). The dose of sevoflurane was reduced by 8.34% +/- 1.24% in Group B when compared with that of Group A. The BIS value could be maintained ranging 40 - 50 in both groups, thus guaranteeing the anesthesia depth. The time for the spontaneous respiration recovery, the extubation time, the time for opening eyes, the time for the voluntary movement recovery, and the time for orientation recovery, and the time for leaving the operation room were significantly shorter in Group B than in Group A (P<0.01). The occurrence of dysphoria, nausea and vomiting was less in Group B than in Group A.

CONCLUSIONSElectro-acupuncture combined with sevoflurane used in neurosurgery could save the dose of sevoflurane, significantly shorten the anesthesia recovery time, and improve the quality of the anesthesia recovery. It was a favorable anesthesia method.