Electro-acupuncture stimulation at acupoints reduced the severity of hypotension during anesthesia in patients undergoing liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Patients with end-stage liver diseases who undergo liver transplantation may suffer from hypotension related to the liver disease itself or related to the surgical procedure. Because electro-acupuncture (EA) at the Neiguan (PC-6) and the Jianshi (PC-5) points influences hemodynamics, we hypothesize that electro-acupuncture at the traditionally used acupuncture points will reduce the severity of hypotension in patients who undergo liver transplantation.


METHODS
Forty patients with end-stage liver disease who underwent orthotropic deceased donor liver transplantation were randomized into two groups. The norepinephrine (NE) group received norepinephrine as a vasoconstrictor, and the electro-acupuncture group received EA at the PC-5 and the PC-6 points for treatment of hypotension during anesthesia for the liver transplantation. The patients were monitored, during the three stages of liver transplantation by using hemodynamic parameters.


RESULTS
During the three stages of liver transplantation, there were no significant differences in the hemodynamic measurements including the mean arterial pressure, heart rate and central venous pressure between the two groups (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Electro-acupuncture at the acupuncture points reduced the severity and the incidence of hypotension during anesthesia for liver transplantation.
Shiraz Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.
Mohammad Ali
MA
Sahmeddini
Mohammad Hossein
MH
Eghbal
Mohammad Bagher
MB
Khosravi
Sina
S
Ghaffaripour
Farahzad
F
Janatmakan
Sakine
S
Shokrizade
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D055815:Young Adult
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D009638:Norepinephrine