Objective: To investigate the sedative effect of acupuncture on patients during mechanical ventilation after valve replacement.
Methods: Sixty patients during mechanical ventilation after valve replacement were randomly assigned to three groups. Intravenous injection of propofol (Pro I) was given to patients in group I; to patients in group II, Pro I was given also and acupuncture at Shenting (DU24) and Yintang (EX-HN3) with needle retention was applied simultaneously, and to those in group III, the same treatment as that for group II was applied but with electroacupuncture instead of simple acupuncture. The speed of Pro I was controlled through micro-pump to maintain the bispectral index (BIS) within 70 - 80. The dose of propofol used, the Ramsay score and adverse reaction, and so on in the three groups were observed and compared.
Results: Pro I dose used was insignificantly different between group I and group II (P > 0.05), but in group III it was more reduced than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05). No significant difference in BIS, Ramsay score, adverse reaction, etc. was found among the three groups. BIS measurements showed negative correlation with Ramsay scores (r = -0.85, P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Electro acupuncture at Shenting and Yintang has a certain sedative effect on patients during mechanical ventilation after valve replacement.