Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on postoperative ileus after laparotomy for gastrointestinal cancer.
Methods: A total of 90 patients with postoperative ileus after laparotomy for gastrointestinal cancer were randomized into an EA group and a conventional treatment group, 45 cases in each one. In the conventional treatment group, the postoperative fast track surgical regimen was accepted. In the EA group, on the base of the treatment as the conventional treatment group, acupuncture was applied to Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Taichong (LR 3) and electric stimulation was attached on Zusanli (ST 36) and Yinlingquan (SP 9), with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency and 3-5 mA in intensity. Acupuncture was provided once daily till the onset of postoperative exhaust and defecation. The first postoperative exhaust time, the first postoperative defecation time, the postoperative hospital stay and the wound pain under standing on the next morning after entering group were compared in the patients between the two groups. The impact of the EA expectation was analyzed on the first postoperative exhaust time, the first postoperative defecation time and the postoperative hospital stay separately.
Results: The first postoperative exhaust time and the first postoperative defecation time in the EA group were earlier than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05), the postoperative hospital stay was shorter than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05), and the rate of wound pain in the postoperative standing was lower than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). EA expectation had no obvious correlation with the clinical therapeutic effect (P>0.05).
Conclusion: EA can relieve postoperative ileus symptoms, alleviate pain and shorten hospital stay in the patients after laparotomy for gastrointestinal cancer.
目的：观察电针对胃肠道恶性肿瘤开腹术后肠麻痹的影响。方法：将90例胃肠道恶性肿瘤开腹术后肠麻痹患者随机分为电针组和常规治疗组，每组45例。常规治疗组接受常规术后快速康复外科方案治疗；在常规治疗组治疗基础上，电针组于足三里、上巨虚、阴陵泉、太冲行针刺治疗，足三里和阴陵泉连接电针，连续波，频率2 Hz，电流强度3~5 mA，留针30 min，每日1次，至患者排气排便为止。比较两组患者术后首次肛门排气时间、首次排便时间、术后住院时间和入组后第2天上午站立位时伤口疼痛情况；分析电针期待值对首次肛门排气时间、首次排便时间及术后住院时间的影响。结果：电针组患者术后首次肛门排气时间、首次排便时间早于常规治疗组（P<0.05），术后住院时间短于常规治疗组（P<0.05），术后站立位时伤口疼痛率低于常规治疗组（P<0.05）。电针期待值与临床疗效无明显相关性（P>0.05）。结论：电针可改善胃肠道恶性肿瘤开腹术后肠麻痹患者肠麻痹症状，减轻疼痛，缩短住院时间。.
Keywords: electroacupuncture; gastrointestinal cancer; gastrointestinal function; postoperative ileus; randomized controlled trial (RCT).