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Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for preemptive analgesia on intraoperative opioid dosage in burn patients: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Burn survivors may be at risk of various opioid-related adverse effects. We aimed to investigate whether transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) used for preemptive analgesia in burn patients reduces intraoperative opioid dosage. METHODS: In this trial, 86 burn patients with wound debridement under general anesthesia were randomized to receive thirty minutes of TEAS (TEAS group, n = 43) at acupoints LI4 (Hegu), PC6 (Neiguan), ST36 (Zusanli), and SP6 (Sanyinjiao) before induction of anesthesia or false stimulation (control group, n = 43). The primary outcome was the intraoperative remifentanil dosage. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative propofol dosage, patients’ resting facial-visual analogue scale (F-VAS) scores before stimulation (F1), after stimulation (F2), at 24 h after surgery (F3), and 48 h after surgery (F4), the incidence of opioid-related adverse reactions, and the use of rescue analgesics until the first postoperative day (POD1). RESULTS: The dosage of remifentanil showed a significant difference between the two groups, with 0.65(0.45,1.00) in the TEAS group (T group) and 0.90(0.67,1.23) in the control group (C group) (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in the intraoperative propofol dosage between groups. F2 and F3 in the T group were lower than those in the C group (P < 0.05), and no significant differences were observed in F1 and F4 (P > 0.05) between the two groups. Until POD1, the incidence of nausea-vomiting and constipation (P < 0.05) in the T group was lower than that the C group, while there was no significant difference in the incidence of drowsiness and dizziness (P > 0.05). It is worth noting that the use of rescue analgesics between the two groups was comparable (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative application of TEAS for preemptive analgesia can reduce intraoperative remifentanil dosage. Meanwhile, it has a positive effect on early postoperative analgesia and gastrointestinal adverse reactions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2300078615, date of registration: 14/12/2023, retrospectively registered).

Source: Perioperative Medicine

DOI: 10.1186/s13741-026-00656-7