Effects of Shen Men Auricular Acupressure on Haemodynamics during Laryngoscopy and Intubation and Preoperative Anxiety

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation is known to cause tachycardia and increase in blood pressure during general anaesthesia. This study wasdesigned to assess if auricular acupressure has beneficial effects in attenuating thehaemodynamic changes during laryngoscopy and intubation. Secondly, this study aimedto evaluate the effectiveness of auricular acupressure in reducing preoperative anxiety.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients who were scheduled for surgeryunder general anaesthesia were randomised to receive either active auricular acupressureover bilateral Shen Men (Group A) or sham auricular acupressure (Group B). A total ofthree stimulations of auricular acupressure with ten minutes interval were performedbefore induction of anaesthesia. Haemodynamic parameters (heart rate and bloodpressure) were recorded ten minutes after each stimulation, during laryngoscopy andintubation and every minute for ten minutes after intubation. Visual analogue scale foranxiety was documented before and at 30 minutes post first stimulation. RESULTS: Theheart rate and mean arterial pressure were statistically higher in Group B comparing toGroup A during intubation (p=0.043 and p=0.049 respectively). There was statisticallysignificant reduction in blood pressure after intubation in both groups as compared tobaseline (p<0.003 respectively). However, there was no significant difference whencomparing both groups (p>0.05). There was no significant reduction of preoperativeanxiety level in both groups after auricular acupressure (p=0.879). CONCLUSION:Auricular acupressure over bilateral Shen Men helped to attenuate the haemodynamicchanges during intubation. However, it did not reduce preoperative anxiety