First, contraindications of electroacupuncture:
Electroacupuncture is a therapy that combines pulse electrical stimulation with needle insertion. After the acupuncture points are needled, a specific current is applied to the needles during the retention process to enhance the effects of acupuncture. In order to prevent accidents during the use of electroacupuncture, in addition to following the precautions for needle insertion, the following points should also be emphasized:
1. Select fine needles without peeling or oxidation of the needle handle according to the safe depth of the acupoints. The depth of needle insertion should be slightly shallower than that of regular acupuncture to prevent accidents caused by changes in needle depth due to muscle contraction after electrification.
2. The knob of the electroacupuncture device (usually 6805 model) must be set to zero before use. If the knob is turned on without caution, it may cause muscle spasms, bent or broken needles, or even cardiac fibrillation. When adjusting the output intensity potentiometer of the electroacupuncture device, it should be done carefully and slowly. Especially when adjusting to the level of electrical stimulation that the patient can tolerate, attention should be paid to prevent the patient from being startled by sudden increase in electrical stimulation. In addition, the current should be adjusted according to the patient's condition, physical condition, and post-electrification reaction, rather than blindly increasing the electrical stimulation based on the patient's request, which may lead to adverse consequences.
3. The recommended duration of electrification is generally 20 minutes, and a timer can be used for timing. There have been reports of severe burns caused by 40 minutes of electrification, which should be taken seriously.
4. In general, needles should not be retained on the chest and back to avoid changes in needle depth after electrification that may cause damage to internal organs. The use of electroacupuncture should also be avoided near the heart, especially for patients with severe heart disease, to prevent the current from passing through the heart. Trans-spinal electrification should be avoided to prevent spinal cord injury or even spinal shock.
5. When using electroacupuncture on the elderly, the current should be appropriately reduced to prevent burns and fractures due to their delayed reaction and osteoporosis. For the treatment of mental patients, electroacupuncture should be performed with the patient in a fixed position, paying attention to their facial expressions and reactions to prevent accidents.
6. The stimulation intensity of electroacupuncture is greater than that of regular acupuncture, so the risk of fainting should be paid attention to. Comfortable body position should be ensured during electroacupuncture treatment. Electroacupuncture treatment should not be performed under conditions of excessive fatigue, hunger, fear, etc. If treatment is necessary, it is better to choose a lying position. Excessive electroacupuncture intensity can cause generalized spasms. In particular, when treating mental patients, excessive electrical stimulation can lead to fractures. For example, a male patient with chronic schizophrenia was given 150mg of chlorpromazine orally and electroacupuncture on the Sishencong and Anmian acupoints. However, he remained agitated. One day, the treatment was changed to the Taiyang acupoint, and the current intensity was set to 50mA. After about 3 seconds of electrification, he became even more agitated. After 3 minutes, the same operation was repeated. Half a minute later, he suddenly experienced a generalized spasm that lasted for 35 seconds. His consciousness gradually recovered, but he had difficulty walking and tenderness in the thigh. X-ray examination confirmed a femoral neck fracture caused by spasms 3 days later.
7. The old fine needles that have been used for a period of time are prone to breakage at the junction of the handle and the needle body. Electroacupuncture treatment often causes strong muscle contractions, so old fine needles must be regularly inspected and replaced. Fine needles that have been heated are prone to oxidation of the metal due to the burning of moxa, resulting in poor conductivity. When using such fine needles, the output wire should be clamped on the needle body. For a certain type of fine needle, the handle is made by firing alumina wire dyed golden yellow instead of copper wire. Alumina is a poor conductor, so when using this type of fine needle, the output wire should also be clamped on the needle body.
8. The output wires of the electroacupuncture device are prone to breakage, often near the plug handle or near the needle clamp. In this case, the outer plastic sheath of the broken wire often remains intact, while the internal multi-strand copper wire is broken, making it difficult to detect. After the wire breaks, the patient may not feel the electrical stimulation or feel intermittent electrical stimulation suddenly. This can be challenging for the patient. In this situation, the wire should be repaired or replaced with a new one before use.
9. When needling acupuncture points such as Futu and Renying, care should be taken not to insert the needle too deep or apply excessive electrical stimulation. Otherwise, it may cause vagus nerve reactions or carotid sinus syndrome. Symptoms may include decreased pulse rate and blood pressure, premature ventricular contractions, pale complexion, and cold sweats. If such symptoms occur, the needle should be immediately removed or the stimulation should be reduced. Generally...
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