Objective To compare effects of combined acupuncture and general anesthesia （CAGA） and general anesthesia （GA） on immune function in patients of laparoscopic cholecystectomy （LC） in peri-operative period. Methods Thirty-nine cases undergoing LC were randomly divided into a CAGA group and a GA group. The CAGA group was treated with electroacupuncture at Hegu （合谷- LI 4）, Neiguan （内关PC 6）, Zusanli （足三里ST 36） and Yanglingquan （阳陵泉 GB 34） for 15-30 minutes followed by the general anesthesia, and the continuous electroacupuncture stimulation was given till the operation finished. The GA group was treated with simple general anesthesia. Changes of T cell subsets, tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6） were observed before anesthesia induction, and 2 hours, 1st and 3 rd day after operation, and the adverse reaction after operation was recorded. Results At 2 hours after operation, the percentages of CD3 and CDs in both groups were significantly lower than those before anesthesia induction （all P〈0.05）, and the percentage of CD4 in the GA group decreased significantly （P〈0.05）, while the percentage of CD： did not significantly change and CD4/CD8 increased significantly in the CAGA group （P〈0.05）. At 3 days after operation, the level of TNF-α in the ACGA group decreased significantly as compared with that before anesthesia induction （P〈0.05）. The cases with nausea after operation in the CAGA group were significantly less than those in the GA group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Acupuncture combined with general anesthesia has a little effect on immune function in patients of LC with less adverse reactions.
