Objective To observe the prewarming effect of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation(TAES)preconditioning of Dazhui(GV14)and Mingmen(GV4)in patients undergoing elective video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy

so as to determine whether TAES can improve intraoperative hypothermia.Methods A total of 80 patients undergoing elective video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy were randomly divided into TAES group(40 cases)and control group(40 cases). Before surgery

all the patients were transferred to the fixed area of an anesthetic preparation room by using a surgery cart carrying the same temperature sheets and quilts before surgery. TAES(2 Hz/100 Hz

20—30 m A)was applied to Dazhui(GV14)and Mingmen(GV4)for 30 min for patients of the TAES group and the same sheet electrodes of EA stimulator were only attached to GV14 and GV 4 without electrical current transmission for patients in the control group. Then

these patients in the two groups were transferred to the operation room and treated by total intravenous anesthesia

and their anesthetic depth was monitored with bispectral index(BIS

between 45—60)and endtidal carbon dioxide tension(PETCO2

between 30—45 mm Hg). The auricular tympanic temperature was monitored

and when the temperature was below 35. 5 ℃

forced-air blanket was used to warm the patient as the remedial measure. The same temperature of operation room

surgical drape

infusion solution and pleural lavage fluid were controlled. The patients' body temperature in the preparation room and operation room during surgery

incidence of hypothemia

blood pressure(BP)

heart rate(HR)

duration of anesthesia

duration of operation

blood loss volume

urine output

total infusion volume

recovery(awaking)time

and chills during recovery were recorded.Results The body temperature of patients in the TAES group was significantly higher than that in the control group at the time of entering the operation room(P<0. 05). The incidence of chills during recovery was obviously lower in the TAES group(3/40

7. 5%)than in the control group(7/40

17. 5%

P<0. 05)

and the recovery time was significantly shorter in the TAES group than in the control group(P<0. 05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia

the duration of anesthesia and operation

blood loss volume

urine output

total infusion volume

BP and HR(P>0. 05).Conclusion TAES preconditioning of GV14 and GV4 can produce prewarming effect before anesthesia

shorten the awaking time and reduce the incidence of chills in the recovery period in patients undergoing elective video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy.