OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on postoperative analgesia of ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty adult patients, American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class Ⅰ or Ⅱ, scheduled to ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy, were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each one. The patients in the observation group were treated with TEAS for postoperative analgesia. TEAS was implemented at bilateral Shenshu (BL 23) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) at the time of back ward and postoperative 4 h, 8 h, 12 h. TEAS at 7:00, 11:00 and 15:00 at the above acupoints were used on the second and third days; while placebo (twice a day, 100 mg a time) was used. Tramadol hydrochloride tablets for postoperative analgesia were applied in the contnol group, twice a day, 100 mg a time, and electrode sheets without stimulation were put on Shenshu (BL 23) and Yinlingquan (SP 9). When analgesia was insufficient with the score of visual analogue scale (VAS)≥3, the patients were treated with tramadol tablets for remedy analgesia. The VAS score, the concentrations of serotonin (5-HT) and substance P (SP) in 3 mL venous blood at the time of back ward (T), postoperative 4 h (T), 12 h (T), 24 h (T), and 48 h (T) were detected respectively. The total amount of medication for remedy analgesia and the incidence of adverse reactions, such as nausea and vomiting within postoperative 48 h were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe VAS scores at T through T were lower than those at T in the two groups (all <0.05). Compared with the control group, the VAS scores at T through T in the observation group were lower (all <0.05). The total dose of remedy analgesic medicine within 48 h after operation in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.05). Compared with the control group, the concentrations of 5-HT at T, T, T and SP at T through T were lower (all <0.05). The numbers of constipation, nausea and vomiting in the observation group were less than those in the control group (both <0.05).

CONCLUSIONTEAS can relieve the pain and reduce the total amount of analgesic medicine, the levels of substance causing pain and the incidence of adverse reactions after ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy.