Electroacupuncture of both single- and multi-acupoints promotes recovery of gastrointestinal function in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients

Abstract

To compare the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of single-acupoint Zusanli (ST36) and multi-acupoints Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37) and Neiguan (PC6) in promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal movement in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) patients undergoing general anesthesia. A total of 70 LC patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] grade I and II) were recruited and randomly divided into control (n＝23), single ST36 (n＝23) and ST36＋ST37＋PC6 (n＝24) groups. The patients in the control group only received routine basic treatments (postoperative fasting and water deprivation, intravenous drip of biotics, water-electrolyte and acid-base balancing, oxygen uptake, etc). EA (10 Hz, 5 mA, 30 min every time) was applied to the abovementioned single-acupoint or multi-acupoints groups before, and 4, 22, 34 and 46 h after the operation. The time-points of postoperative borborygmus recovery, first anal exhaust and defecation, post-operative abdominal distension (mild, moderate and severe), nausea and vomiting (grade Ⅰ， Ⅱ， Ⅲ and Ⅳ) at 6, 24 and 48 h after surgery were recorded and analyzed. Compared to the control group, the time of borborygmus recovery, first anal exhaust and defecation were markedly earlier in both single ST36 and ST36＋ST37＋PC6 groups (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001). The number of patients who had mild plus moderate abdominal distention, and nausea (grade Ⅱ＋Ⅲ) at 24 h after ope-ration was significantly lower in both single ST36 and ST36＋ST37＋PC6 groups than in the control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two EA groups in the time of borborygmus recovery, first anal exhaust and defecation, and in the number of patients with mild plus moderate abdominal distention and those with nausea (P>0.05). EA of both single ST36 and ST36＋ST37＋PC6 can promote gastrointestinal function recovery in LC patients, without remarkable difference between them.