Effect of electrical acupuncture on thyroid function during neuroleptic anesthesia in man
Akitomo, M.; Mihoko, K.; Tsutomu, O.
Masui. Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology 34(2): 156-160
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4892 PMID: 4009935 Document Number: 258968
Patients (14)having nodular goiter with normal thyroid functions were studied to evaluate effect of electrical acupuncture on thyroid functions as judged by plasma thyroid hormone levels during extirpation of the nodular goiters under neuroleptic anesthesia. They were divided at random into 2 groups. Eight patients served as the control group who received neuroleptic anesthesia composed of droperidol, fentanyl and NO (70%) supplemented with muscle relaxant. Stainless needles were put into bilateral Futotsu or Tentei and electrical stimulation of 1 Hz was given using with Tokki pI 200, throughout the operative procedure. Plasma levels of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) were estimated 10 times by means of radioimmunoassay before, during and after the operative procedure. Plasma T4 levels were unchanged throughout the procedure, but T3 levels decreased significantly postoperatively which was followed by a marked increase in plasma rT3 levels. There was no statistical significant difference in plasma T4, T3 and rT3 levels between both groups at any time. Electrical acupuncture in combination with neuroleptic anesthesia has no significant effect on thyroid function during extirpation of the nodular goiter.