Abstract
Background
The delayed extubation time after often accompany with many adverse events. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on the extubation time and adverse events after surgery.
Methods
The randomized controlled trials related to apply TEAS during perioperative period were searched in the database of Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI from the inception to Apil 2024. The main outcome was the extubation time after surgery, and the secondary outcomes were the consumption of analgesics, adverse events during extubation, time of surgery and anesthesia. Data were pooled and analyzed by RevMan 5.3 software.
Results
The study enrolled 9 studies, including 1039 participants. The current results indicated that the application of TEAS effectively shortened the extubation time after surgery (SMD − 0.55 95%-CI [-0.84; -0.26], P = 0.0002), as well as time to recall after surgery (SMD − 0.18 95%-CI [-0.32; -0.03], P = 0.02). TEAS also reduced the consumption of remifentanail during surgery (SMD − 1.15 95%-CI [-1.72, -0.59], P < 0.00001). In addition, TEAS reduced the incidence of PONV (RR 0.49, 95%-CI [0.32, 0.74], P = 0.007), cough (RR 0.53, 95%-CI [0.31, 0.90], P = 0.02) and agitation (RR 0.31, 95%-CI [0.14, 0.67], P = 0.003) during extubation period. While TEAS have no effects on surgical (SMD 0.12, 95%-CI [-0.01, 0.26], P = 0.07) and anesthesia time (SMD 0.15, 95%-CI [-0.15, 0.45], P = 0.32).
Conclusions
The study suggested that application of TEAS effectively shortened the time to extubation and recall after surgery. TEAS also reduce the consumption of analgesics, and adverse events after surgery, but have no effects on surgical and anesthesia time. Which may positively improve the enhanced recovery of patients after surgery.
Trial registration
CRD42018099275