A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial for Electroacupuncture Treatment of Post-surgical Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Patients Undergoing Laparotomy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6) in the treatment of persistent postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients undergoing laparotomy. METHODS: A total of 60 laparotomy patients were enlisted in the present study and were randomly divided into conventional treatment group (control) and EA group (n=30 in each group). Patients of the EA group were treated by conventional treatment and EA stimulation (2 Hz, 1‐10 mA) of bilateral ST 36 and PC 6 for 30 min, once daily for 5 days, and patients of the control group treated by conventional treatment (pre‐ and post‐surgical fasting, measures for gastrointestinal decompression, electrolyte stabilization, parenteral nutrition support, and anti‐infection in necessity, etc). The first postoperative flatus and defecation time, postoperative hospital stays,abdominal bloating grading (0‐4 points, i.e. Likert scale), and adverse events were recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: After the treatment, the first postoperative flatus and defecation time, and hospital stay time and abdominal bloating scores from the 2nd to the 5th day post‐surgery in the EA group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The abdominal bloating scores of the two groups were gradually and obviously decreased from the 2nd day on in comparison with pre‐treatment (P<0.05). Of the two 30 cases in the control and EA groups, 5 and 14 were cured in their clinical symptoms, 15 and 13 experienced marked improvement, 7 and 3 were effective, 2 and 0 invalid, with the effective rates being 66.7% and 90.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EA is effective in improving persistent postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction in cancer patients undergoing laparotomy.