Electroacupuncture Before Gastrectomy Accelerates Recovery from Gastrointestinal Dysfunction: A Feasibility Study.

Objective: This study investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of preoperative electroacupuncture (EA), given within 30 minutes before surgery, on postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) in patients undergoing open gastrectomy.

Materials and methods: Patients (N = 60) undergoing open gastrectomy were allocated randomly to a usual care (UC) group (n = 30) or an EA group (n = 30). Patients in the EA group were given bilateral EA on ST-36 (Zusanli), ST-37 (Shangjuxv), and ST-39 (Xiajuxv) within 30 minutes before the surgery. The UC group had no acupuncture treatment. Primary outcomes were feasibility of recruitment, retention, acceptability, and patients' global satisfaction. Secondary outcomes included time to first flatus, defecation, liquid diet, incidence and severity of abdominal distension (AD), and incidence of postoperative nausea (PON) and postoperative vomiting (POV). EA-related adverse events were recorded.

Results: Of the 61 recruited patients, 1 declined to participate and 60 were randomized into the 2 study groups. All participants completed the interventions. On the acceptability questionnaire, participants' acceptance of EA was statistically improved after the treatment (P < 0.001). Global satisfaction was higher in the EA group (P < 0.001) at 8 (range: 7-8) versus the UC group at 6 (range: 5-7), and the proportion of patients with at least good satisfaction (numerical scale of more than 7 of 10) reached 80% in the EA group. Compared to the UC group, the EA group had a shorter time to first flatus (EA: 57.67 ± 23.09 hours versus 71.27 ± 17.78 hours; P = 0.013). There were no significant differences in time to first defecation (P = 0.081) and liquid diet (P = 0.068), AD (P = 0.436), PON (P = 0.667), or POV (P = 1.000). EA-related adverse events were similar in the 2 groups (P = 1.000).

Conclusions: EA is feasible, acceptable to patients, and associated with higher postoperative satisfaction in patients undergoing open gastrectomy. A large multicentered trial is needed to test the effectiveness of EA on PGD.