OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) on brain tissue oxygen and glucose metabolism of the brain tissue in peri-operative period of the craniocerebral operation. METHODS: Fifty patients scheduled for neuro-surgery were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group equally. Anesthesia applied after induction on all patients was continuous sevoflurane inhalation and intermittent intravenous injection of sulfenany and vecurnium bromide, but to the treatment group TASE was applied additionally from 30 min before anesthesia to the end of operation. Blood samples were taken from artery and jugular venous bulb at different time points, i. e. before induction (T0) , before skin incision (T1) , at the end of operation (T2) , and 10 min after extubation (T3) , for blood-gas analysis. The difference of oxygen, glucose and lactate contents between blood samples of arterial and jugular bulb (Da-jvO2, Da-jvGlu and Da-jvLac) at respective time point were determined and calculated. RESULTS: Da-jvO2 decreased in both group at T1, T2 and T3, and all lower than that at T0 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but significant difference was shown in comparison of the index at T2 and T3 with the same time points in the control group in the treatment group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) , and that between groups at T2 and T3 (P < 0.01). Da-jvGlu in the treatment group decreased at T2 and T3 (P < 0.05), but keep unchanged relatively in the control group before and after anesthesia, inter-group comparison showed it was lower at T2 and T3 in the treatment group than that in the control group respectively (P < 0.05). Da-jvGlu in the treatment group at T1, T2, and T3 were all lower than that at the same time points (P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION: TAES can significantly decrease the oxygen and glucose metabolism of the brain tissue in the perioperative period of the craniocerebral operation.