Acupoint Stimulation and Postoperative Sleep in Elderly Patients

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Sleeping After General Anesthesia in Elderly Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

Sleeping model can be affected after surgery. Anesthetics may be involved in the change. The changing of sleeping mode may exert adverse effect on postoperative recovery. Acupuncture and related techniques has been used for treating sleeping disorder. In this study, the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on sleeping model after general anesthesia will be observed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age≥65 years old
• scheduled for abdominal surgery under general anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria:

• anticipated duration of surgery longer than 5 hours or shorter than 1 hour
• American society of anesthesiologists status over stage 3
• Participants with sleep apnea or moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (defined by Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI))
• Participants with preoperative sleep disturbances (diagnostic criteria of sleep disturbances according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Third Edition (ICSD-3))
• Participants with a history of alcohol or drug abuse
• Participants with severe hepatic or renal insufficiency kidney disease
• Participants with contraindications to the use of acupoint stimulation (including those with infection or injury of the skin to attach electrodes, and those with implanted electronic devices)