Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of different acupoint groups on the sevoflurane anesthetic requirement for resection of supratentorial tumors and the speed of post-operation recovery.Methods A total of 120 cases of supratentorial tumor resection patients were randomly and equally allocated into general anesthesia(GA) group

EA-proximal acupoints group(EA-PA group) and EA-distant acupoints group(EA-DA group).The supratentorial tumor patients were anesthetized with sevoflurane for surgery.Proximal acupoints used were Fengchi(GB 20)

Tianzhu(BL 10)

Cuanzhu(BL 2) and Yuyao(EX-HN 4) that the former 2 acupoints and the latter 2 acupoints were for penetrative needling;and distant acupoints used were Hegu(LI 4)

Waiguan(TE 5)

Jinmen(BL 63)

Taichong(LR 3)

Zusanli(ST 36) and Qiuxu(GB 40) on the craniotomy side

and stimulated with EA(2 Hz/100 Hz

a tolerable electric stimulating strength)

beginning from the anesthesia induction till the end of surgical operation.All patients were anesthetized by inhalation of propofol(2 mg/kg)

sufentanil(0.3 μg/kg) and vecuronium bromide(0.1 mg/kg) and maintained with sevoflurane.The end-tidal sevoflurane concentration

minimum alveolar concentration(MAC)

bispectral index(BIS)

and the speed of recovery were recorded.Results In comparison with the GA group

the end-tidal concentrations during anesthesia maintenance at the time-points of post skull drilling

dura incising

intracra-nial operation in EA-PA group

the time-points of post skull drilling

skull opening

dura incising

and intracranial operation in EA-DA group

and the MAC of sevoflurane at the time-points of skull drilling in EA-DA group

and skull opening

dura incising

intracranial operation and dura suturing in both EA-PA and EA-DA groups were significantly lower(P<0.05

P<0.01).Compared to the GA group

the BIS values of EA-DA group at the time-points of skull drilling and opening

and dura incising were significantly higher(P<0.05)

while during the recovery stage of anesthesia

in comparison with the GA group

the autonomous respiration recovery time

tracheo-tube removing time

eye-opening time

voluntary motion recovery time

orientation force recovery time

and operating room-departure time of both EA-PA and EA-DA groups were significantly shorter(P<0.05

P<0.01).No significant differences were found between the EA-PA and EA-DA groups in the aforementioned indexes(P>0.05).Conclusion EA of both proximal and distant acupoints can reduce the expired concentration and MAC of sevoflurane during anesthesia maintenance

and accelerate the recovery after cease of anesthesia in supratentorial tumor resection patients.