Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on the Stress Response During Extubation After General Anesthesia in Elderly Patients Undergoing Elective Supratentorial Craniotomy: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Elderly patients have an increased risk of a stress response during extubation after general anesthesia. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) might decrease the stress response and improve the quality of recovery in elderly patients after elective supratentorial craniotomy. Materials and Methods: In this prospective randomized controlled study, patients were randomly assigned to either a TEAS group (n=37) or a control group (n=38). The primary outcomes were the hemodynamic parameters and plasma concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol. The secondary outcome included the consumption of remifentanil and propofol, time to extubation and reorientation, extubation quality score, postoperative quality of recovery, and postoperative complications. Results: Compared with the control group, hemodynamic parameters and plasma concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol during extubation were decreased in the TEAS group. TEAS reduced the consumption of remifentanil ( P <0.01), as well as incidence of postoperative complications. The extubation quality score was lower ( P <0.01) and the quality of recovery score was higher ( P <0.01) in the TEAS group than in the control group. However, the time to extubation and reorientation, and the consumption of propofol were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusions: TEAS may decrease the stress response during extubation, improve quality of postoperative recovery, and decrease incidence of postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing elective supratentorial craniotomy.