OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on the quality of recovery during the early period after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the dosage of anesthetic and analgesic.

METHODSOne hundred patients who received laparoscopic cholecystectomy with gradeⅠand Ⅱ of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) criteria were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group according to random number table, 50 cases in each group. The patients in the two groups were treated with conventional endotracheal intubation anesthesia, anesthesia induction and maintenance. The patients in the observation group were treated with TEAS (2 Hz/100 Hz, 8 to 12 mA) at bilateral Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6), as well as Zusanli (ST 36) and the non-acupoint 2 outboard from Zusanli (ST 36) from 30 min before anesthesia induction to the end of operation. The patients in the control group were applied by stimulation electrode in the corresponding points without electrical stimulation. The dosage of intraoperative remifentanil and the analgesic dosage of dezocine for postoperation were recorded. The recovery time, extubation time, the changes of heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during extubation were recorded. The quality of recovery was assessed by the quality of recovery-40 questionnaire (QoR-40) 1 day before surgery (T)，and 4 h (T), 8 h (T), 24 h (T), 48 h (T) after surgery. The patient's cognitive function was assessed by mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scale at the 5 time points. The incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded at T through T.

RESULTSThe dosages of intraoperative remifentanil and dezocine in the observation group were less than those in the control group; the recovery time and extubation time were shorter than those in the control group; the HR of extubation was lower than that in the control group (all <0.05). There was no statistic difference about MAP between the two groups (>0.05). Compared with T, the total scores of QoR-40 decreased in the two groups at T, T, T (all <0.05), and the total scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all <0.05). The emotional state, physical comfort, psychological support, self-care ability, pain scores at T in the observation group and at T, T, T in the control group were lower than those at T (all <0.05). The emotional state, physical comfort, psychological support, self-care ability, pain scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group at T, T, T (all <0.05). Compared with T, the MMSE scores in the two groups decreased at T and T (all <0.05). At T, T, T, the MMSE scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all <0.05). At T and T, the incidence rates of nausea and vomiting were 22.0% (11/50), 12.0% (6/50) respectively in the observation group, which were lower than 32.0% (16/50) and 24.0% (12/50) in the control group (both <0.05). At T and T, the incidence rates of nausea and vomiting were 6.0% (3/50), 2.0% (1/50) respectively in the observation group, which were not significantly different from 8.0% (4/50) and 4.0% (2/50) in the control group (both >0.05).

CONCLUSIONTEAS can improve the quality of recovery during the early period after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and reduce the dosage of anesthetic and analgesic.