Beijing Cooperative Group of Acupuncture Anesthesia for Cesarean Section
Observations were made on 458 cases of cesarean section under acupuncture anesthesia in 1975 for the evaluation of the specificity of the acupuncture points. The first part of the study was to investigate, by clinical analysis and comparison, the relative specificity of the acupuncture prescriptions.
Prescription I: Shanyinjiao, "external anesthesia" point and para-incision needles.
Prescription II: Renzhong, Chengjiang and para-incision needles. The results are shown in Table 1.
The combined rates of Grade I & II for the two prescriptions were quite similar, being 79.1% and 75.5% respectively. The blood loss less than 300 cc in two groups was 75.4% and 74.5% respectively. During the course of operation the blood pressure and pulse rate were stable. The change in blood pressure was mostly within 20 mmHg, and there was not much difference between the two groups except that the percentage of change of systolic pressure within 20 mmHg was higher with Prescription I. The study showed that stimulating different acupuncture points with needle can elevate the pain tolerance threshold to various extent and can also counteract the disturbances in the physiologic function. This is realized through the regulating effect of acupuncture and is a manifestation of the common characteristics of the acupuncture treatment. The specificity of the two different prescriptions was not very marked.
The second part of the study was carried out to compare the effect of analgesia and the conditions during and after the operation of those patients who complicated with toxemia of pregnancy or other disease. The comparison was made to observe the relative specificity of the above two prescriptions. There were 323 cases without complications, 93 cases with toxemia of pregnancy or chronic hypertension and 42 cases with anemia or cardiac disease. The results are shown in Table 2.
The study indicated that either prescription I or II showed a regulating action on the physiologic function. With prescription I the blood loss during operation was less, so that in toxemia patient the blood pressure and pulse rate remained stable. With prescription II, the disturbance of physiologic function in the anemia or cardiac patient was reduced, and the blood pressure and pulse rate remained stable too. As the number of cases is not large enough, it needs further confirmation.
According to the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the relative specificity of the two prescriptions was discussed.
1. The original fuctional status of the individual is the decisive factor which affects the regulating effect of acupuncture anesthesia.
2. Applying the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine -- "treating diseases according to different symptoms" in combination with the selection of acupuncture points in regard to their specificity may help to raise the effect of acupuncture anesthesia.
3. This study suggests that in cesarean section it is better to use prescription I for toxemia patients, prescription II for anemia or cardiac patients, and either of them for cases without complications.
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