Perioperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulations as part of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol for living donors undergoing nephrectomy: A randomized, controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: Living kidney donors (LKDs) experience perioperative anxiety. We designed the following study to evaluate the anxiolytic effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) during the perioperative period in a group of LKDs undergoing laparotomy nephrectomy. METHODS: LKDs were randomly assigned to either the TEAS or control group. Participants in the TEAS group received 30min of intervention (6–15 mA, 2–100 Hz), at Yintang (EX-HN-3), bilateral Taichong (LR3) and Neiguan (PC6) one day before surgery (D(0)), before induction of anesthesia (D(1)) and one day after surgery (D(2)). The participants in the control group received the same placement of electrodes but without electrical stimulation. Venous blood was collected before each intervention. Anxiety levels and recovery profiles were recorded. RESULTS: LKDs in the TEAS group had lower anxiety level than those in the control group at D(1), D(2) and three days after surgery (D(3)). The percentage differences were: 33.3%, 25.0%, and 22.2%; [95% confidence interval (CI), (−55.1%, −11.6%), (−47.4%, −2.6%), and (−42.3%, −2.2%); P = 0.005, P = 0.034, and P = 0.035; respectively]. LKDs who received TEAS had better sleep quality and short-term recovery profiles than those in the control group. The plasma levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and melatonin (MT) in the TEAS group were significantly higher than those in the control group at D(1) and D(2) (5-HT: P = 0.001, and P < 0.001; MT: P = 0.006, and P = 0.001). At the 3-month follow up, fewer LKDs in the TEAS group had incisional pain when compared to the control group (P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative TEAS decreased perioperative anxiety and facilitated postoperative recovery in the LKDs, and potential decreased the development of chronic pain. Trial Registration: Registered at ChiCTR2000029891, http://www.chictr.org.cn/listbycreater.aspx.