Clinical Study on Acupuncture at Lower He-Sea Point for Promoting Functional Recovery after Stomach Cancer Surgery / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at lower He-Sea point in promoting functional recovery after stomach cancer surgery.Methods Sixty patients who had undergone stomach cancer surgery were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups by using random number table method according to registration order, 30 cases each. The control group received general treatment and the treatment group, acupuncture in addition. Post-treatment gastric tube removal time, borborygmus recovery time and first fart time, the average hospitalization days, and the total cost were observed and the Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) score was recorded in the two groups of patients. Post-treatment incidence of adverse reactions, peripheral white blood cell (WBC) counts, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and plateletcrits (PCT) were compared between the two groups.Results There were statistically significant differences in post-treatment gastric tube removal time, borborygmus recovery time, first fart time and hospitalization days, and the total hospitalization expenses between the two groups of patients (P<0.01). There were also statistically significant differences in post-treatment incidences of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and abdominal distension between the two groups (P<0.05). Post-treatment QLQ-C30 score was (38.35±15.25) in treatment group and (76.23±10.67) in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in WBC and CRP levels at the end of operation and 24 hrs after treatment between the two groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). Conclusions Acupuncture can be used for early treatment after stomach cancer surgery. It can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function and improve the overall quality of life in the patients.