Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for Postoperative Recovery

Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for Postoperative Recovery After Knee Arthroplasty. A Randomized, Double-blind, Clinical Trial.

This study investigates electrical acupoint stimulation (EAS) administered in peri-operation for improving postoperative recovery in elder patients, who accept knee arthroplasty. the surgery cause to change of stress response, which might be associated with postoperative recovery of patient Totally, three groups are created, 1/3 participants receive transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation, 1/3 participants receive electroacupuncture, the rest 1/3 will use sham transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation.

Theoretically, the application of electrical acupoint stimulation (EAS) base on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. It deems that a surgery might consume Qi, then cause to imbalance of Qi and Blood, especially in elder patients. Besides, surgery lead to change of stress response (hormones). The EAS administration intra-operatively perhaps be beneficial to recovery of patients, reduce the incidence of postoperative complications. The main possible mechanism was stress response regulation. The hypothesis is that the EAS improve postoperative recovery of patient through regulating stress response.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Agree to sign the contract
• The patients receive total hip or knee arthroplasty
• Epidural anesthesia administered

Exclusion Criteria:

• The patients' age out of range setting
• Forbidden to the administration of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation
• Communication disorder
• The patients who had medical history of cerebral vascular diseases, deep vein thrombosis, urinary retention, nausea and vomiting.
• The patients who attended another trial in the past three months
• Emergency surgery