Effect Observation of Electro-Acupuncture Anesthesia Combined with General Anesthesia in Elderly Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Tumor Resection

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the anesthetic effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) anesthesia combined with general anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor resection, and to analyze the effects of EA anesthesia on inflammatory factors, stress state and T lymphocyte subsets in elderly patients.MethodsTotal of 118 elderly patients who underwent gastrointestinal tumor resection in our hospital from June 2018 to March 2021 were selected and divided into the control group (59 cases) and the observation group (59 cases) according to the random number method. General anesthesia was adopted in the control group and EA anesthesia combined with general anesthesia was adopted in the observation group. The anesthesia effect, stress state, levels of inflammatory factors, T-lymphocyte subsets and adverse reactions were compared.ResultsThe VAS score, agitation score and respiratory normalization time in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). After surgery, the levels of serum Cor, ET, NE and DA in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). At 24 h after surgery, the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). At 24 h after surgery, the levels of CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+//CD8+ in the two groups were lower than those before surgery, and the levels of CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+//CD8+ in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). During the hospitalization, the total incidence rate of adverse reactions after anesthesia in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05).ConclusionEA anesthesia combined with general anesthesia has good anesthesia effect when used for gastrointestinal tumor resection in the elderly. It can stabilize the internal environment of patients, alleviate postoperative stress response and inflammatory response, and regulate the body immune function. Moreover, it has high safety and can significantly reduce the occurrence of postoperative adverse reactions.

Research trends from 1992 to 2022 of acupuncture anesthesia: a bibliometric analysis

“…When acupuncture stimulation is applied to acupuncture points, it promotes releases special molecules, like opioid peptide, glutamate, and adenosine calcium, which alleviate pain on particular organs ( 43 ). Several clinical studies ( 11 , 19 , 45 , 46 ) have demonstrated that acupuncture anesthesia can effectively reduce the dosage of anesthetic drugs and the risk of adverse reactions in surgical applications, with minimal physiological intervention in patients. Adenosine, a neuromodulator with antinociceptive characteristics, is involved in the local analgesic effect of acupuncture and amplifies the rise in acupuncture-induced adenosine and its antinociceptive effect ( 47 ).…”

“…In terms of indications, acupuncture anesthesia is being investigated not only for clinical anesthesia management but also for perioperative pain, nausea and vomiting, and other symptoms that can hasten patient recovery ( 51 ). In terms of applicable groups, it is being applied to special populations aimed at elderly, children and pregnant women ( 46 , 52 , 53 ). This approach complies with the principles of ERAS ( 54 ), an evidence-based, multimodal, and multidisciplinary approach to surgical patient care.…”

Research progress on the immunomodulatory mechanism of acupuncture in tumor immune microenvironment

“…In patients with gastric cancer, acupuncture compound general anesthesia reduced the negative impacts on immune function based on obviously decreased levels of CD3 + , CD4 + and CD4 + /CD8 + after subtotal gastrectomy ( 79 ). Similarly, in patients following gastrointestinal tumor resection, EA compound general anesthesia had a satisfactory anesthetic effect and immunomodulatory function, which had lower levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β and decreased levels of CD3 + , CD4 + and CD4 + /CD8 + ( 80 ). As for cancer-related fatigue, acupuncture was beneficial to improve the symptoms of fatigue and promote the absolute counts of CD3 + , CD4 + , CD8 + and CD4 + /CD8 + ( 81 ).…”