Intraoperative analgesia with wrist- ankle acupuncture: Two case reports on wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with the interfascial plane block for emergency laparotomy

Abstract

This article reported the application of wrist-ankle acupuncture with the ultrasound-guided interfascial plane block (Transversus abdominis plane block,TAPB; Rectus sheath block, RSB; Rhomboid intercostal and sub–serratus block, RISSB) in two emergency laparotomy in elderly frail patients. These cases were successfully completed with only a small dosage of narcotic analgesics, and the patient's spontaneous breathing was preserved and the vital signs of the patients were stable with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of 2 points and the oxygen saturation level over 95%. Both patients recovered soon after the surgery. The combination of wrist-ankle acupuncture and interfascial plane block to preserve spontaneous breathing during laparotomy in elderly frail patients in China had not been previously reported.