Study Summary

Ninety patients undergoing spinal surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis or intervertebral disc herniation were randomized to receive perioperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (n=45) or a sham control (n=45). The primary outcomes of interest included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, remifentanil consumption, and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and dizziness. Secondary outcomes included hemodynamic outcomes, blood loss, and antiemetic consumption. The results of this study found significant reductions in postoperative pain scores (1-2 days post-operation), remifentanil consumption, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the stimulation group vs. control. Less blood loss was also reported in the stimulation group. Heart rate was significantly lower at the end of surgery and the time of extubation in the stimulation group.