Effects of gastrointestinal motility therapy combined with acupuncture on gastrointestinal function in patients after laparoscopic radical surgery.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction is common after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer and affects rehabilitation. While conventional treatments can alleviate symptoms to a certain extent, they often fail to fully address the issue of insufficient GI motility. The GI motility therapeutic apparatus promotes dynamic recovery by simulating GI electric waves, whereas acupuncture regulates zang-fu qi movement, both offering effective interventions. However, there are few clinical studies investigating the combined use of GI motility therapy and acupuncture to promote GI function recovery in patients after GI laparoscopic radical surgery.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of combining GI motility therapy devices with acupuncture on GI function in patients undergoing radical laparoscopic surgery.

Methods: This retrospective study included 196 patients who underwent radical GI endoscopic surgery at the Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine, Tongji University, from June 2022 to May 2024. Patients were classified into a normal group (conventional treatment, n = 96) and an integrated group (conventional + GI motility therapy device + acupuncture, n = 100). The effects on GI function, hormone levels pre- and post-treatment, GI symptoms, immune function, adverse reactions, and patient satisfaction in both groups were assessed.

Results: Compared with the normal group, the integrated group demonstrated significantly better overall effectiveness (93.00% vs 84.3%; P < 0.05) and shorter durations for first exhaust, feeding, defecation, and hospital stay (P < 0.05). Post-treatment, the integrated group had lower gastrin and GI symptom rating scale scores and higher motilin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and immune marker (CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, and natural killer cells) levels (P < 0.05). The integrated group, compared to the normal group, also reported fewer adverse reactions (5.00% vs 14.58%) and higher patient satisfaction (97.00% vs 84.38%), both statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The combination of a GI motility therapy device and acupuncture promotes GI function recovery after radical gastrectomy, regulates GI hormones and immune function, and is safe and effective.