OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with general anesthesia for the immune function of patients treated with laparoscopic radical rectectomy for rectal cancer.

METHODSFifty patients who would receive selective laparoscopic radical rectectomy for rectal cancer with general anesthesia were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,25 cases in each one. Fifteen minutes before anesthesia induction,patients in the observation group were treated with EA at Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) until the end of operation. Sham acupuncture without piercing the skin was applied at the same acupoints in the control group, and electrodes were connected without stimulation. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6) were quantitatively tested before anesthesia (T), at the time of abdomen closing (T) and one hour after anesthesia anabiosis (T). And serum procalcitonin (PCT) level, leucocyte count and the number of cases with increasing leucocyte (the standard number>10×10/L) were measured on the first day after operation.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-4 and IL-6 were increased apparently and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 was decreased at Tcompared with those before treatment in the control group (all<0.05), but obvious change did not appear in the observation group (all>0.05). The ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 was enhanced (<0.05),and the levels of IL-4 and IL-6 were reduced (both<0.05) at Tin the observation group compared with those in the control group. The level of PCT of the observation group was markedly lower than that of the control group on the first day after operation (<0.05). There was no statistical significance about leucocyte count and the number of cases with increasing leucocyte between the two groups (both>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA at Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) could alleviate the depressing immune function and inflammatory reaction of patients after laparoscopic radical rectectomy for rectal cancer.