OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia with different frequency electroacupuncture on cytokine expression in patients with pneumonectomy in order to provide evidence for selection of electroacupuncture frequency in acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia.

METHODSFifty-six patients scheduled for pneumonectomy were randomly divided into groups I (n=22), II (n=16) and III (n=18). General anesthesia was produced in all the groups. The patients in group II and III were treated with electroacupuncture at Houxi (SI 3), Zhigou (TE 6), Neiguan (PC 6) and Hegu (LI 4), 30 min before general anesthesia. The 2 Hz continuous wave was produced in group II, and the 2 Hz/100 Hz was produced in group III till the operation finished. The serum content of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and 6 (IL-6) was detected by double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the time of 24 hours before operation, 10 minutes after incision and 24 hours after operation.

RESULTSThe contents of IL-6 in all the three groups at the time of 10 minutes after incision were all higher than those before operation (all P < 0.01), and the content of IL-1 had no obvious change (all P > 0.05). In comparison with 10 minutes after incision, the contents of IL-1 in group I and III were both significantly increased at the time of 24 hours after operation (both P < 0.01), and there was no obvious change in group II (P > 0.05). The contents of IL-6 in all the three groups at the time of 24 hours after operation were more significantly increased than those at the time of 10 minutes after incision (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture-drug compound anesthesia with 2 Hz frequency can partly regulate the expression of inflammatory factors so as to alleviate the stress reaction in perioperative patients and protect organs function.