title: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint-stimulation potentiates the anesthetic effect of enflurane in humans.
abstract: The effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on enflurane anesthesia and hemodynamic changes during craniotomy was studied. Eighty neurosurgical patients were randomly divided into two groups. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, droperidol, thiopental, and suxamethonium by intubation. In group A, anesthesia was maintained with enflurane (n=40), and in group B was supplemented by TEAS with Han's acupoint nerve stimulator (HANS) to Hegu, Yuyao, and Fengchi points on the operated side (n=40). The results showed that the ratio between expired concentration and minimum alveolar concentration of enflurane during operation in group B was 37.8%-47% lower than that in group A, and that the hemodynamics were more stable during operation. The results also demonstrated that the patients in Group B recovered faster after operation. It was concluded that TEAS with HANS significantly potentiated the anesthetic effect of enflurane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100050, Beijing, PRC.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: E Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X Z
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Yang