Effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture on propofol dosage in painless bronchoscopy of elderly patients: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To observe whether wrist-ankle acupuncture can reduce propofol dosage in painless bronchoscopy of elderly patients or not and its potential effect mechanism. Methods: A total of 60 patients undergoing painless bronchoscopy were randomized into a wrist-ankle acupuncture group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the wrist-ankle acupuncture group, wrist-ankle acupuncture was received and the needles were retained for 30 min before entering to the operating room. In the control group, no any intervention was provided. The patients in two groups all received venous administration of midazolam, nalorphine and lidocaine and target controlled infusion of propofol. When the patient's consciousness was lost and the eyelash reflex disappeared, bronchoscopy was performed and the propofol dosage was increased accordingly during operation. Propofol dosage, vital signs and occurrence of adverse reactions, bronchoscopist satisfaction, operation time and recovering time were recorded in the patients of two groups. Results: Propofol dosage in induction period and the total dosage of propofol in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group were lower than those in the control group, indicating the statistical differences (both P < 0.05). The vital signs were stable during bronchoscopy in patients of two groups. The occurrence rates of hypoxemia and choking in the wrist-ankle acupuncture groups were lower than those in the control group, indicating the statistical differences (both P < 0.05). Bronchoscopist satisfaction in the wrist-ankle acupuncture group was higher than that of the control group, and the operation time and recovering time were lower than the control group, indicating the statistical differences (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: In painless bronchoscopy, wrist-ankle acupuncture may effectively reduce propofol dosage, alleviate respiratory suppression, reduce adverse reaction and shorten the recovering time in elderly patients. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of World Journal of Acupuncture Moxibustion House.