Electroacupuncture Reduces Duration of Postoperative Ileus After Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer

• Published in: Gastroenterology (New York, N.Y. 1943) Vol. 144; no. 2; pp. 307 - 313.e1
• Main Authors: Ng, Simon S.M, Leung, Wing Wa, Mak, Tony W.C, Hon, Sophie S.F, Li, Jimmy C.M, Wong, Cherry Y.N, Tsoi, Kelvin K.F, Lee, Janet F.Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2013
• Subjects: Aged; Colectomy - adverse effects; Colectomy - methods; Colon Cancer; Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction - etiology; Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction - physiopathology; Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction - rehabilitation; Colorectal Neoplasms - surgery; Defecation; Electroacupuncture - methods; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Gastrointestinal Motility; Humans; Laparoscopy; Length of Stay - trends; Male; Postoperative Care - methods; Postoperative Complications; Prospective Studies; Recovery Time; Therapy; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; sham acupuncture; Therapy; ST; no acupuncture; spleen meridian; triple energizer meridian; SA; Gastrointestinal Motility; TE; NA; Colon Cancer; large intestine meridian; stomach meridian; electroacupuncture; Recovery Time; EA; LI; SP
• ISSN: 0016-5085; 1528-0012
• DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2012.10.050

Background & Aims We investigated the efficacy of electroacupuncture in reducing the duration of postoperative ileus and hospital stay after laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. Methods We performed a prospective study of 165 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery for colonic and upper rectal cancer, enrolled from October 2008 to October 2010. Patients were assigned randomly to groups that received electroacupuncture (n = 55) or sham acupuncture (n = 55), once daily from postoperative days 1–4, or no acupuncture (n = 55). The acupoints Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Hegu, and Zhigou were used. The primary outcome was time to defecation. Secondary outcomes included postoperative analgesic requirement, time to ambulation, and length of hospital stay. Results Patients who received electroacupuncture had a shorter time to defecation than patients who received no acupuncture (85.9 ± 36.1 vs 122.1 ± 53.5 h; P < .001) and length of hospital stay (6.5 ± 2.2 vs 8.5 ± 4.8 days; P = .007). Patients who received electroacupuncture also had a shorter time to defecation than patients who received sham acupuncture (85.9 ± 36.1 vs 107.5 ± 46.2 h; P = .007). Electroacupuncture was more effective than no or sham acupuncture in reducing postoperative analgesic requirement and time to ambulation. In multiple linear regression analysis, an absence of complications and electroacupuncture were associated with a shorter duration of postoperative ileus and hospital stay after the surgery. Conclusions In a clinical trial, electroacupuncture reduced the duration of postoperative ileus, time to ambulation, and postoperative analgesic requirement, compared with no or sham acupuncture, after laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00464425.