Electroacupuncture at ST36 for Reducing Postoperative Inflammation After Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Cardiopulmonary bypass, surgical trauma, and ischemia‐reperfusion injury can induce asystemic inflammatory response after cardiac surgery. Excessive inflammation isassociated with postoperative organ dysfunction and adverse clinical outcomes.Preclinical evidence suggests that electroacupuncture at ST36 may modulate systemicinflammation through neuroimmune pathways, including the vagal‐adrenal axis. However, itsclinical effectiveness in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypasshas not been established.Eligible participants will be randomized after returning to the intensive care unitfollowing surgery. Participants in the experimental group will receive bilateral ST36electroacupuncture in addition to standard postoperative treatment and nursing care.Electroacupuncture will be administered twice, with each session lasting 30 minutes.Participants in the control group will receive the same standard postoperative care andthe same acupoint localization, skin disinfection, needle insertion, and needle retentionprocedures, but without electrical stimulation.The primary outcomes are C‐reactive protein levels and Sequential Organ FailureAssessment scores on postoperative day 2. Secondary assessments include vasoactive druguse, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, mechanical ventilation, intensive care unitand hospital length of stay, inflammatory cytokines, and other laboratory indicators ofinflammation and organ function. The primary analysis will follow the intention‐to‐treatprinciple.