Observation on effect of electroacupuncture of different frequencies on patients after thyroid surgery: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objective To observe postoperative effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of different frequencies in acupuncture anesthesia combined with drugs on patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Methods One hundred and twenty patients undergoing thyroid surgery were randomly divided into a 2Hz electroacupuncture anesthesia group (group A), a 100 Hz electroacupuncture anesthesia group (group B), a 2Hz/100 Hz electroacupuncture anesthesia group (group C) and a cervical plexus block group (group D) in accordance with the random number table method, with 30 patients in each group. In group A, group B and group C, electroacupuncture was applied at bilateral Futū ( LI 18), Hegŭ ( LI 4) and Neiguān ( PC 6) at frequencies of 2 Hz, 100 Hz and 2 Hz/100 Hz respectively for 30 min. The needles were retained till the end of the surgery. Dolantin and atropine were intramuscularly injected In group D, bilateral cervical plexus block was produced with a mixture of 1% lidocaine and 0.375% bupivicaine. Before surgery, pain threshold and threshold of pain tolerance were determined; during surgery, the duration of surgery was recorded; and after surgery, QOLS (Quality Of Life Score) and PHS (Prince-Henry Score) were assessed. Results PHS in group A, group B and group C were lower than that in group D, respectively (0.20±0.41, 0.17±0.38, 0.10±0.31 vs 0.40±0.50, P P P P P Conclusion Acupuncture anesthesia combined with drugs has better postoperative effect than drug anesthesia. Electroacupuncture of different frequencies can significantly improve general quality of life of patients, so patients recover well after thyroid surgery. As patients in group C suffered from the slightest pain with the highest quality of life, they recovered best within the shortest time. Electroacupuncture at frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz can better play postoperative analgesic effect.