[Effect of combined drug-acupuncture anesthesia on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis response and glucose metabolism in open-heart surgery patients].

OBJECTIVE

To study and evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis response and glucose metabolism in open-heart surgery patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

METHODS

Thirty patients with atrial septal defect were divided into 3 groups, the general anesthesia group (A), the acupuncture anesthesia group (B) and the general anesthesia combined EA group (C). Peripheral blood samples were collected at the time before anesthesia, before CPB and 30 min after CPB to determine plasma beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), serum cortisol and blood glucose.

RESULTS

Plasma beta-endorphin, ACTH and serum cortisol increased significantly in Group A and B 30 min after CPB but without significant change in Group C. Blood glucose increased in all the 3 groups 30 min after CPB but the increment in Group C was the lowest.

CONCLUSION

Group A and B showed no significant inhibitory effect on HPA axis response and glucose metabolism in open-heart surgery patients undergoing CPB, but Group C could obviously inhibit those responses. Assessment from the viewpoint of stress, the general anesthesia combined with EA is the better approach for anesthesia in open-heart surgery with CPB.