OBJECTIVETo compare the difference between transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) assisted general anesthesia and simple general anesthesia on stress response during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in aged patients.

METHODSForty patients underwent LC were randomly divided into a TENS assisted general anesthesia group (group T) and a general anesthesia group (group G), 20 cases in each group. After TEAS for 30 min, general anesthesia was applied in group T, and TEAS was continued until LC over. In group G, only routine general anesthesia was given. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), saturation of blood oxygen (SpO2), PetCO2, and the contents of plasma endothelin (ET), cortisol (Cor) were measured before anesthesia (T0) and after intubation cannula 5 min (T1), after pneumoperitoneum 5 min (T2) and 15 min (T3), and LC over (T4). The rate of hypotension and hypertension were observed during preoperative period.

RESULTSThe hemodynamics indices decreased in group G at T1 than before. The reductions of MAP and HR in group G were larger than those in group T at T1 (P < 0.05). After pneumoperitoneum, the hemodynamics indices and serum ET and Cor have no differences in group T as compared with before (all P > 0.05), but they were all increased more significantly in group G than before, and with significant differences between group G and group T at each time point (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture-assisted anesthesia profit to maintain the hemodynamic stable and reduce the stress response during LC in aged patients.