[Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation reduces perioperative arrhythmia risk and improves recovery quality in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: mechanisms involving suppression of repolarization abnormalities induced by CO2 pneumoperitoneum].

CO2 pneumoperitoneum increased QT interval dispersion (QTD) in both the control and TEAS groups, but the elevation persisted longer in the control group.

• Compared with baseline (t0), QTD was increased in the control group at t2 (1 min after CO2 pneumoperitoneum), t3 (30 min after CO2 pneumoperitoneum), and t4 (10 min after operation) (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05).
• In the TEAS group, QTD was increased only at t2 compared with t0 (P<0.05), indicating a more transient response.
• QTcD (corrected QT interval dispersion) was increased in the control group at t2, t3, and t4 (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05), but not persistently elevated in the TEAS group.

TEAS significantly reduced QTD and QTcD compared to the control group during and after CO2 pneumoperitoneum.

• Compared with the control group, QTD and QTcD were decreased in the TEAS group at t2, t3, and t4 (P<0.001, P<0.05, P<0.01).
• These reductions in repolarization dispersion indices suggest a lower risk of arrhythmia in the TEAS group during the pneumoperitoneum period.
• Measurements were taken at preoperative baseline (t0), 1 min after anesthesia induction (t1), 1 min after CO2 pneumoperitoneum (t2), 30 min after CO2 pneumoperitoneum (t3), and 10 min after operation (t4).

TEAS reduced heart rate during CO2 pneumoperitoneum compared to the control group.

• Compared with the control group, HR was reduced in the TEAS group at t2 (1 min after CO2 pneumoperitoneum) and t3 (30 min after CO2 pneumoperitoneum), both at P<0.05.
• No significant HR differences were reported at other time points.

TEAS significantly shortened postoperative emergence time compared to the control group.

• Emergence time was shorter in the TEAS group compared to the control group (P<0.01).
• Emergence time was recorded as the time from end of surgery to patient recovery.

TEAS reduced early postoperative pain as measured by VAS scores at 1 hour after emergence.

• VAS score was lower in the TEAS group compared to the control group at 1 hour after emergence (P<0.05).
• VAS scores were recorded at 1, 6, and 24 hours after emergence; significant differences were observed only at the 1-hour time point.
• No statistically significant differences in VAS scores were reported at 6 or 24 hours after emergence.

The TEAS intervention was applied at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) and Waiguan (TE5) acupoints using disperse-dense wave stimulation throughout the surgical procedure.

• Stimulation parameters: disperse-dense wave, frequency of 2 Hz/10 Hz, intensity of 4 mA to 10 mA.
• Stimulation was initiated before anesthesia induction and maintained throughout the surgical procedure.
• Sixty patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to TEAS group (30 cases, 2 excluded) or control group (30 cases, 2 excluded), yielding 28 patients per group for analysis.