OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST 36) and Feishu (BL 13) applied 30 min before the operation till the end of the operation on the postoperative inflammatory reaction and pulmonary complications in the senile patients after radical resection of pulmonary carcinoma.

METHODSEighty senile patients of pulmonary carcinoma were selected and randomized into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one. In the observation group, EA stimulation at Zusanli (ST 36) and Feishu (BL 13) was used 30 min before the operation till the end of the operation. In the control group, electric stimulation was not used. Separately, before operation (T, basic state), 12 h after operation (T) and 24 h after operation (T), blood sample was collected from the central vein. The concentrations of plasma tumor necrosis factor-ɑ (TNF-ɑ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected. Additionally, the radial arterial blood sample was collected at the above time points; oxygen partial pressure (PaO) was determined; pulmonary alveoli-arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PDO) and oxygenation index (OI) were calculated. The pulmonary complication in the two days after operation was recorded.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, in the observation group, at Tand T, TNF-ɑ concentration and PDOwere lower (all<0.05); plasma IL-10 concentration and OI were higher (all<0.05). In the observation group, the incidences of postoperative pneumonia and acute pulmonary injury were lower than those in the control group (both<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA reduces the postoperative inflammatory reaction in the senile patients with radical resection of pulmonary carcinoma and decreases the postoperative pulmonary complicattizen.