Lack of influence of acupuncture and transcutaneous stimulation on the immunoglobulin levels and leucocyte counts following upper-abdominal surgery

Abstract The changes in immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM) and total and differential leucocyte counts in the peripheral blood during, and for 6 days after, surgery were evaluated in 29 male patients submitted to standardized upper-abdominal surgery performed under two different anaesthetic techniques. Group 1 received stimulation of ear and paravertebral points, supplemented by small doses of fentanyl (mean 1.2 micrograms kg-1, range 0.0-5.7) and Group 2 received moderate-dose fentanyl (mean 22.9 micrograms kg-1, range: 17.5-29.8). All were induced with thiopentone 5 mg kg-1, intubated after vecuronium 0.1 mg kg-1 and ventilated with 67% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Inhalation anaesthesia was not used. Surgery was followed by a fall in immunoglobulins, lymphocyte and eosinophil counts and a rise in leucocyte and neutrophil counts in both groups (P less than 0.01). No recovery was observed until the last assessment on Day 6 after surgery in IgA, IgG, leucocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in both groups, whereas IgM and eosinophil counts recovered by Day 4. Monocyte and basophil counts were unchanged in either group. Acupuncture and transcutaneous stimulation analgesia performed for major abdominal surgery did not influence the body's immune system either during or after surgery as measured by the concentrations of immunoglobulin and total and differential WBC counts.