Objective:To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on perioperative anxiety and postoperative pain in living kidney donors (LKDs).Methods:Seventy-two American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ LKDs, aged 18-64 yr, with body mass index of 18-28 kg/m 2, undergoing living kidney transplantation, were selected, and divided into 2 groups ( n=36 each) using a random number table method: TEAS group (group T) and sham stimulation group (group S). In group T, TEAS was performed on the forenoon at 1 day before surgery (T 0), at 30 min before anesthesia induction on the morning of the operation day (T 1) and on the forenoon at 1 day after surgery (T 2) at bilateral Neiguan, Taichong and Yintang with a frequency 2-100 Hz, disperse-dense waves and current intensity 6-15 mA, and each TEAS lasted for 30 min.Only electrode patches were applied at the same acupoint and at the same time point, but no stimulation was applied in group S. In T and S groups, brachial venous blood samples were collected before each stimulation for measurement of the plasma 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentration.The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale (HADS-A) scores at T 0, T 1, T 2, on day 3 after surgery (T 3) and before discharge (T 4) in the 2 groups were recorded.The consumption of anesthetics during operation, laryngeal mask airway removal time, requirement for rescue analgesia within 72 h after surgery and the development of postoperative complications were recorded.The LKDs were followed up by telephone at 3 months after surgery (T 5) to record the scores of HADS-A and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Sign (LANSS) scale. Results:Compared to group S, the incidence of anxiety was significantly decreased T 1, T 2 and T 3, the incidence of rescue analgesia within 72 h after surgery was decreased, plasma concentration of 5-HT was increased at T 1 and T 2, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was decreased, and the time to first flatus was shortened in group T ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the consumption of anesthetics during operation, laryngeal mask airway removal time, and the incidence of anxiety and neuropathic pain within 3 months after surgery between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:TEAS can relieve early preoperative and postoperative anxiety and alleviate postoperative pain in LKDs.