BACKGROUND: Han's acupoint nerve stimulator (HANS) has been frequently used to relieve pain by promoting the central nerve system's release of endogenous opioid peptides through electric stimulation to the body surface. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pain-relieving effects of HANS, combined with patient-controlled analgesia, following neurosurgery, and to observe adverse reactions and effects. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized control observation was performed at the Department of Neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical College (Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, China) from January 2005 to February 2006. PARTICIPANTS: Forty patients, who were selected for craniotomy and required pain relief following surgery at the Department of Neurology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical College (China), were included in this study. METHODS: Forty patients underwent neurosurgery and were randomly divided into two groups: patient-controlled analgesia plus HANS (+HANS, n = 20) and patient-controlled analgesia (-HANS, n = 20). Both groups were well matched in baseline data. Automatic syringe infusion pump ZZB-150 was the product of Nantong Aipeng Medical Instruments Co, Ltd (China). Patient-controlled analgesia consisted of 100 mL 0.02% lappaconitine/0.02% metoclopramide. LH-402 HANS instrument was produced in Beijing (China), with a serial number of 402183. The HANS instrumentation was used to stimulate the Hegu-Laogong acupoint on one side and Jiaogan, Shenmen penetrating Shen, Waifei, Naogan penetrating Pizhixia ear acupoints on the affected side for one hour, with 2-hour intervals. The disperse-dense wave was alternating, with a 2/100 Hz frequency of electrical stimulation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The scores of visual analogue scale and incidence of adverse reaction were observed in two groups following surgery. RESULTS: Compared with the -HANS group, the visual analogue scale scores were remarkably lower in the +HANS group six hours after surgery (p < 0.01), and the incidence rate of adverse reactions, such as nausea and vomiting, was also decreased (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The application of HANS to induce body surface stimulation can enhance the effect of pain relief and reduce adverse reactions when used in combination with patient-controlled analgesia following neurosurgery. The effect of combined therapy is superior to patient-controlled analgesia alone.

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