ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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 (P0.05). CONCLUSION: EA of both single ST36 and ST36＋ST37＋PC6 can promote gastrointestinal function recovery in LC patients, without remarkable difference between them.