Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture on the Recovery of Gastrointestinal Function in Patients after Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgery: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

AIM: There lacks effective means to promote the recovery of the gastrointestinal function after the surgery. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture on the recovery of the gastrointestinal function in patients after abdominal laparoscopic surgery.

Methods: We designed a case-control study. Cases were patients having electroacupuncture plus the same treatment as controls; controls were those having traditional routine treatment. All patients had an abdominal laparoscopic surgery between November, 2015 and May, 2018. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 60 patients were selected for each group. Outcomes included abdominal flatulence, time to the rugitus recovery, and time to the first flatus and defecation. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to estimate relative risk ratios (RRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for outcomes.

Results: Electroacupuncture group had significantly better clinical outcomes than the controls. Average time in hours for the rugitus recovery, first flatus, and first defecation, respectively, was 29.0 ± 1.8, 42.1 ± 2.1, and 84.1 ± 2.3 in electroacupuncture group, and 44.7 ± 2.7, 67.4 ± 3.1, and 117.3 ± 2.9 in normal controls. Unadjusted RRR (95% CI) was 0.82 (0.72, 0.97) for flatulence score, 0.94 (0.92, 0.97) for time to the rugitus recovery, and 0.92 (0.90, 0.95) for the first flatus in cases using normal controls as a base outcome. Results for electroacupuncture were neither confounded nor modified.

Conclusions: Electroacupuncture helped recover gastrointestinal function faster than routine treatment after laparoscopy. Electroacupuncture should be recommended for the patients after surgery or having abdominal diseases.