Description PC-5 and PC-6 points of both arms and non-acupoints of both shoulders
Experimental Description
36 singleton parturients undergoing Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomized into three groups.
Sample Count
36
Control
Sham
Blank
Control(n=12)
Experiment
Non-acupoint(n=12); Acupoint(n=12)
Indicator
Hemodynamics
Auxiliary Medication
2.4 ml of isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% and 0.4 ml of fentanyl (20 mg) was injected intrathecally over approximately 15s. In the case of insufficient cephalad spread of anaesthesia, incremental epidural supplements of lidocaine 1% were injected, starting with 5 ml. When necessary, additional 3 ml boluses were given no earlier than 5 min after the preceding top-up. Ephedrine i.v. in increments of 4 mg was given every 2 min to treat hypotension.
Stimulation Method
TENS
Induction Method
Electroacupuncture Instrument Model
Manufacturer
Frequency
Waveform
Strength
Induction Time
-
NeuroTraxTM TENS & AcuStim; Verity Medical Ltd, Hampshire, UK
50 Hz
-
-
The electrical stimulation was administered until delivery
Acupuncture_Needle
Needle_Manufacturer
Needle_Depth
-
-
-
Description The intensity of the electrical stimulation was adjusted to produce the most intense tolerable electrical sensation without muscle contractions or uncomfortable feelings at a frequency of 50 Hz. The electrical stimulation was administered until delivery.
Anesthesia Method
AAA
Clinical Trial Type
random
Contraindications
Parturients suffering from preeclampsia, hypertension, dia_x005fbetes, or obesity (BMI＞30 kg m-2) were excluded
Effector
The median (range) of the lowest recorded systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the acupoint group compared with the other groups and that of the non-acupoint group was higher than that of the control group [control, 70 (68–82) mm Hg; acupoint, 94 (84–109) mm Hg; non-acupoint, 81 (70–92) mm Hg: P<0.001]. Significantly more parturients in the control and non-acupoint groups experienced hypotension [control, 10 (83%); acupoint, 4 (33%); non-acupoint, 10 (83%): P=0.013]. More ephedrine was required to maintain arterial blood pressure in the control and non-acupoint groups.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at the PC-5 and PC-6 acupoints reduced the severity of hypotension after spinal anaesthesia in patients undergoing Caesarean section.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite prophylactic measures, hypotension remains a common side-effect of spinal anaesthesia for parturients. Electroacupuncture at the Neiguan (PC-6) and Jianshi (PC-5) points influences haemodynamics. We thus hypothesized that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at traditionally used acupuncture points would reduce the severity of hypotension after spinal anaesthesia in patients undergoing Caesarean section. METHODS: After obtaining approval from the local ethics committee and written informed patient consent, 36 singleton parturients undergoing Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomized into three groups. The control group received no treatment, and the acupoint and non-acupoint groups received TENS at the PC-5 and PC-6 points of both arms and non-acupoints of both shoulders, respectively. RESULTS: The median (range) of the lowest recorded systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the acupoint group compared with the other groups and that of the non-acupoint group was higher than that of the control group [control, 70 (68-82) mm Hg; acupoint, 94 (84-109) mm Hg; non-acupoint, 81 (70-92) mm Hg: P<0.001]. Significantly more parturients in the control and non-acupoint groups experienced hypotension [control, 10 (83%); acupoint, 4 (33%); non-acupoint, 10 (83%): P=0.013]. More ephedrine was required to maintain arterial blood pressure in the control and non-acupoint groups. CONCLUSIONS: TENS on the traditional acupuncture points reduced the severity and incidence of hypotension after spinal anaesthesia in parturients."
