Key Finding
TEAS significantly reduced preoperative anxiety (SMD = -1.07, P = .0002), heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and postoperative pain across 12 randomized controlled trials involving 1,026 patients.
Feeling anxious before surgery is incredibly common — and completely understandable. But what if a simple, non-needle technique that stimulates acupuncture points could help calm those nerves? A new research review suggests it might.
Scientists analyzed 12 randomized controlled trials involving 1,026 patients to examine the effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation, or TEAS, on preoperative anxiety. TEAS works by delivering gentle electrical impulses to specific acupuncture points on the skin — no needles required. It's easy to apply, consistent, and doesn't require the same level of specialized training as traditional acupuncture.
The results were encouraging. Patients who received TEAS before surgery experienced significantly lower anxiety levels compared to those who did not. But the benefits didn't stop there. TEAS was also linked to a meaningful reduction in heart rate and blood pressure before surgery — both common physical signs of anxiety and stress. Perhaps most surprisingly, patients who received TEAS also reported less pain after their procedure.
The one area where results were less clear was sleep quality. While there was a trend toward improvement, the findings weren't statistically significant, meaning researchers couldn't confidently attribute the change to TEAS alone.
What does this mean for you? If you're scheduled for surgery and looking for a gentle, drug-free way to manage pre-surgery jitters, TEAS — and broader acupuncture-based therapies — may be worth discussing with your care team. These approaches could complement your existing treatment plan and help you feel more at ease going into the operating room.
As always, speak with a licensed and qualified acupuncture practitioner to explore whether this approach is right for your individual health needs.
This meta-analysis of 12 RCTs (n = 1,026) evaluated the clinical impact of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on preoperative anxiety and related perioperative outcomes. Analyzed via RevMan 5.4, results demonstrated that TEAS produced a statistically significant reduction in preoperative anxiety (SMD = -1.07, P = .0002), heart rate (MD = -8.61, P = .02), and mean arterial pressure (SMD = -1.53, P = .04). A notable postoperative analgesic effect was also observed (SMD = -1.89, P < .0001), suggesting central or autonomic modulation extending beyond the preoperative window. Sleep quality improvement trended positive but did not reach significance (SMD = 0.72, P = .13). Effect sizes across anxiety and pain outcomes are clinically meaningful. As a noninvasive, reproducible modality, TEAS presents a viable adjunct in perioperative care protocols. Practitioners should note the need for further well-designed RCTs to standardize protocols and confirm sleep-related efficacy.
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