LightNeedle - RJ Laser

18
G. Litscher
colleagues [4] did consider the SEF, nor did they
investigate the effects of manual needle acupuncture
and the effects ofLaserneedle@ acupuncture.
We have shown in this study that awake volunteers
subjected to acupressure at Yintang can have
similar BIS and SEF values to anaesthetized patients.
While it is unlikely that a patient will receive acupressure
or acupuncture during surgery, the question
as to what causes BIS readings below 50 in awake
subjects remains. It is unlikely to be a placebo effect
as we have shown in several test measurements usin~
placebo points that BIS is not affected by Laserneedle
stimulation per se. In the present study there were
small statistically significant but not clinically important
changes with needle acupuncture, Laserneedle@
acupuncture and acupressure at control point. These
findings also help confirm that the BIS and SEF
reductions induced by acupressure at Yintang are
not a placebo effect. Reduced electromyographic
levels could be partially responsible [21]. At the
moment it is unclear to what degree system algorithms
contribute to such findings. BIS is certainly
affected by electrical activity nearby, especially
diathermy. Therefore, there could also be a possibility
that local movement in the region of the recording
electrode might be responsible for the EEG effects
observed. These are apparently less during control
point acupuncture than during Yintang acupressure,
where pressure is applied to a point immediately
adjacent to the Zipprep@ electrode. Further investigations
are necessary to clarify these questions.
In conclusion, we found in healthy awake volunteers
that acupressure at Yintang results in statistically
significant and clinically relevant reductions in
BIS and SEF while needle acupuncture, Laserneedle@
acupuncture and acupressure at a control point result
in statistically significant but clinically unimportant
reductions. Although the validity of BIS in anaesthesia
is higher than that of SEF, BIS too has to be
interpreted very carefully as our results show. Our
results also highlight the EEG similarities of acupressure
induced sedation and anaesthesia.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to express his thanks to Dr Lu
Wang, Mag. Petra Petz and Evamaria Huber (Department
of Biomedical Engineering and Research in
Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Graz)
for their valuable help.
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