After obtaining written informed patient consent, 60 geriatric patients undergoing hernia surgery under spinal anesthesia were randomized into two groups. In the placebo TEAS group, the gel electrodes will be applied at the same anatomical points without stimulation. The acupoint group will receive TEAS at the PC-5, PC-6, and ST-36 points bilaterally before the spinal anesthesia. The spinal anesthesia will be performed using 12.5 mg 0.5% bupivacaine was from the L3-4 or L4-5 interval with a 25G Quincke spinal needle. Hemodynamic data will be followed every five minutes.
Despite prophylactic measures, hypotension remains a common side-effect of spinal anesthesia. Electroacupuncture influences hemodynamics. We hypothesized that transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation (TEAS) at traditionally used acupuncture points would reduce the severity of hypotension after spinal anesthesia in geriatric patients undergoing hernia surgery.