Electroacupuncture Analgesia in a Rabbit Ovariohysterectomy

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of using electroacupuncture analgesia (EAA) at local and paravertebral acupoints for a rabbit undergoing an ovariohysterectomy. Twelve clinically healthy New Zealand white rabbits were chosen for the study and divided into two groups, namely, the control group (consisting of 5 rabbits) and the experimental group (consisting of 7 rabbits). A neuroleptanalgesic (ketamine + xylazine) was administered to the control group (the NLA group), and the test group received EAA treatment (the EAA group). The EAA treatment includes one acupuncture formula for local stimulation at the incision site and systemic stimulation. The EAA stimulation of paravertebral points determines the synergic effect in surgical analgesia. Results of clinical research have shown that postoperative analgesia using EAA treatment was superior to that of NLA. The average postoperative recovery time was 5.2 times longer in the NLA group than in the EAA group. Because consciousness was maintained, EAA presented an advantage in thermoregulation. Animals administered with NLA had prolonged thermal homeostasis because of neurovegetative disconnection. For the EAA group, the outcomes for the operative time could be characterized as excellent (2/7 or 28%, p = 0.28) or good (5/7 or 72%, p = 0.72). Local stimulation at the incision site provided excellent analgesia of the abdominal wall (excellent = 7/7 or 100%). In conclusion, EA can provide general analgesia for a rabbit undergoing an ovariohysterectomy, with a considerable analgesic effect and a short postoperative recovery time.