Effect Of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation At Hegu And Neiguan On Prevention Of Postoperative Sore Throat After Thyroid Gland Lobectomy

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) at Hegu and Neiguan on prevention of postoperative sore throat (POST) after thyroid gland lobectomy.Methods:One hundred and twenty patients with Amercian Society of Anesthesiologists grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ who were scheduled for elective thyroid gland lobectomy were enrolled into this study, and randomly assigned into:TEAS group (60 cases) and control group (60 cases). All the patients underwent endotracheal intubation anesthesia. Patients in TEAS group were continually treated with TEAS from 30 minutes before induction to the end of operation (dilatational wave 2～100Hz, current intensity 8～12mA). Patients in control group were not received TEAS procedure. The dose of remifentanyl used during operation, and the incidence, severity and Visual Analogue Score (VAS) score of POST were recorded at 1,6,12 and 24 hours after tracheal extubation, respectively. In addition, the incidence and severity of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) as well as, the incision VAS score in two groups were assessed.Results:The dose of remifentanyl was used less in TEAS group (601.4±143.8(μg) than that in control group (803.5±190.8μg). Analysis also demonstrated significantly lower; Incidence of POST within 24h in TEAS group (21.4%) compared to that in control group (40.7%); During 24h, the incidence of POST after extubation in TEAS group was significantly lower at each time point (1,6,12 and 24h) than that of the control group (10.71% vs 25.93%,21.43% vs 40.74%,17.86% vs 35.19%,14.29% vs 31.48%, all P< 0.05). Moreover, the severity of POST in TEAS group at each time point was remarkably attenuated as compared to control group. TEAS group had a lower VAS score assessed for POST at 1,6 and 12h after extubation. However, there was no significant difference of VAS score between two groups at 24h after extubation. The incidence of PONV within 24h in TEAS group was 12.5%, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (27.78%), and the severity of PONV is also lower than control. Results showed that incision VAS score in TEAS group assessed at 24h after surgery was 2.1±0.3, while the score in control group was 2.3±0.5, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion:TEAS can effectively reduce the incidence and severity of POST in patients undergoing thyroid gland lobectomy. In addition, TEAS can help to enhance analgesic effect and reduce the incidence of PONV.