Effect of fast acupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after ;abdominal non-gastrointestinal surgery / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of fast acupuncture at Zusanli(ST36) on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after abdominal non-gastrointestinal surgery. Methods In this randomised placebo-controlled single-blind clinical trial, patients received abdominal non-gastrointestinal surgery were assigned to a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group received fast acupuncture and the control group received superficial conciliative acupuncture. The acupuncture was taken at both sides of Zusanli (ST36) for 1 minute respectively during 7-8 a.m. and 7-8 p.m..We began from the first postoperative day and stopped when the patients got initial postoperative flatus or stool, or at the end of the fifth postoperative day. Results 37 controlled patients were assigned to the treatment group (18 patients) and the control group (19 patients) randomly. There were no differences on general information between the two groups. The treatment group had stronger feeling than the control group on the comparison of the acupuncture sensation level (5.7 ± 3.0 vs. 2.7 ± 2.2;t=-3.471, P=0.001). For the treatment group, the initial postoperative flatus or stool time is 19 hours earlier than the control group (65.9 ± 18.1 h vs. 85.0 ± 24.5 h; t=2.682, P=0.011). And the treatment group patients’ postoperative abdominal distension is lesser than the control group (P=0.006). Conclusion Fast acupuncture at Zusanli(ST36) can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after abdominal non-gastrointestinal surgery, and can also lighten the patients’ postoperative abdominal distension.