APPENDECTOMY UNDER COMBINED ACUPUNCTURE ANESTHESIA

National Cooperative Group of Acupuncture Aresthesia for Appendectiomy

From 1975 to 1982. 17,858 patients with acute or chronic appendicitis had been operated on (appendectomy) under combined acupuncture anesthesia in National Cooperative Research Group. The excellent and good results (grade I and II, most cases are in grade II) were 67.86%, the similar results have been also observed by polygraphy.

In comparison with the early use of other acupoints we selected the following group of points combined with local infiltration of small amount (less than 10 ml) of 0.5% Procaine and low dose (less than 50 mg) of Pethidinc I.V. for appendectomy as the best method; right Zusanli, right Neiguan and local sensitive points and the acupuncture needles of the later points were removed before disinfections of skin. It is stressed that the maximal intensity of the electric stimulation of the needles, which approximately equal to 5 mA and the patient could be tolerated, are more important than the frequency.

In order to have a facility in doing the operation, we advise that the patient should be lying on his back with pillows under right scapula and buttock and another pillow under right popliteal fossa to make the patient having his body a slight left tilt of about 20 degree and right thigh flexed to about 130 degree, so that right lower quadrant of the abdomen of the patient may be less tense or relaxed to some extent. The surgeon should stand at the left side of the patient instead of the traditional right side, by which handling of the appendix may be easier.