[Mechanism of acupuncture anesthesia for analgesia of the operative region of thyroid gland].
OBJECTIVE
To probe into peripheral nervous mechanisms of analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6) on cervical region.


METHODS
Twenty cases of thyroid disease who wished to receive acupuncture anesthesia, were stimulated with electroacupuncture at bilateral Hegu (LI 4), Neiguan (PC 6) in continued wave, intensity of 6-8 V, frequency of 10-20 Hz. After stimulation for 40 min, the operation was made. Before EA stimulation, 10 min, 20 min and 30 min after EA stimulation, changes of the physiologi cal functions including latent period, conduction velocity, wave peak amplitude of great auricular nerve were monitored and changes of pain sense were detected.


RESULTS
After EA given at Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6) for 10 min, 20 min and 30 min, the pain sense significantly decreased (P<0.01), the latent period of great auricular nerve was shortened, and the conduction velocity was fastened and the wave peak amplitude raised with significant changes as compared with those before EA stimulation (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
EA at Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6) can produce a better analgesic effect on cervical region; EA at Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6) induces electro-physio logic changes of the nerve innervating the cervical region, showing increase of excitability; the nerves innervating Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6) and the nerves of cervical region possibly are homologous nerves.
Peng
Li-chao
LC
Anesthesia Department, Shanghai City Fifth People's Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200240, China. plichao@Gmail.com
Jiang
Ke-quan
KQ
Wu
Gui-long
GL
Ding
Qiao-ying
QY
Qiu
Jian-hua
JH
Jin
Ling-yan
LY
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000601:surgery*