The Use Of Ear Acupuncture Anesthesia Through "Neck-To-Lung" Points For Hyperthyroidism And Other Thyroid Operations

Ma Lie, et al. (Department of Anaesthesia, Second Teaching Hospital, Zhejiang Medical College)

From 1960 to 1975, 89 cases of hyperthyroidism and 334 cases of other thyroid diseases were operated on, including partial or total thyroidectomy with or without simultaneous cervical block resection under ear acupuncture anesthesia; and as a whole the results were promising.

1. The period of induction of acupuncture anesthesia should be not less than 30 minutes. With the induction period limited to 20,25 and 30 minutes, chances of success in the cases of thyroid tumor were 80.3%, 88.1% and 93% respectively and in those of hyperthyroidism 50%, 90.2% and 100% respectively. To prolong the induction period further, there was no evidence that the state of anesthesia would be definitely improved.


2. Following the application of acupuncture anesthesia, the raising of the blood pressure and the increase of the heart rate were more prominent in cases of hyperthyroidism than those without it. This might be due to the increase of serum catecholamine level, promoted by the secretion of thyroxin, though it could be related also to acupuncture anesthesia itself.

3. In the patient of hyperthyroidism, through a long period of pre-operative preparation, whose characteristic symptoms and signs were still present, i.e. BMR above 25~30%, and the evidence of threatening of thyroid crisis, acupuncture anesthesia as a rule was contraindicated, while the epidural block in which the sympathetic activity could be somewhat depressed would be preferable.