EVALUATION OF ACUPUNCTURE POINTS GOVERNING VESSELS 1 AND 26 ON ANESTHETIC RECOVERY OF EASTERN BOX TURTLES ( TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA).

Intramuscular administration of anesthetic agents in chelonians may result in a prolonged (≥1 hr) return of spontaneous movement and breathing, which increases the probability for peri- and postoperative complications. The acupuncture point governing vessel (GV)-26 has been demonstrated to reduce anesthetic recovery times from inhalant anesthesia in other species. In this study, 30 eastern box turtles (EBT; Terrapene carolina carolina), presented to the Turtle Rescue Team at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment of aural abscess, were divided into four groups: control (no treatment); GV-26 acupuncture; GV-1 and GV-26 acupuncture; or GV-1 and GV-26 electroacupuncture. Turtles receiving either GV-1 and GV-26 acupuncture or GV-1 and GV-26 electroacupuncture had a significantly reduced time to return of voluntary movement ( P = 0.012 and P = 0.006, respectively), a significantly reduced time to response of limb extension ( P = 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively), and a significantly reduced time to anesthetic recovery ( P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Therefore, the use of either GV-1 and GV-26 acupuncture or GV-1 and GV-26 electroacupuncture produces significant reductions in anesthetic recovery time in EBTs that have received injectable anesthetics.