The authors studied the effects of acupuncture and pentazocine on post-operative respiratory function and pain management on patients hysterectomized by means of a subumbilical midline incision.

The acupunctural technique consisted of GB-26, St-36, Sp-6 and auricular Shen-Men bilateral electrostimulation for 40 minutes.

The analgesic effect of acupuncture was equivalent to that of 30 mg pentazocine, yet the most important effect of acupuncture consisted in a net increase of vital capacity during the period of acupuncture analgesia that lasted for 3-4 hr after stimulation; contrariwise, pentazocine did not cause any vital capacity increment and vital capacity remained at the levels observed prior to narcotic administration.