Effect of electrically stimulating acupoint, Zusanli (ST 36), on patient's recovery after laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection and its clinical significance.

METHODS

Sixty-four patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (group A) and the TEAS group (group B). Patients in the TEAS group received electroacupuncture stimulation of bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) at 30 min before anesthesia to the end of surgery. The patients in the control group were not given the stimulation. Perioperative anesthesia management of the two groups were performed according to the ERAS guidelines, and postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) was used. The amount of remifentanil used in the two groups was observed and recorded, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) of the 4, 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery in the two groups was recorded. Moreover, postoperative anal exhaust time, postoperative feeding time, postoperative first ambulation time and postoperative hospital stay length were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Compared with group A, the VAS score of group B decreased significantly at 48 h after operation (P < 0.05). The postoperative anal exhaust time in group B was significantly shorter than that of group A (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups with regards to remifentanil consumption, postoperative feeding time, postoperative first ambulation time and postoperative hospital stay (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

TEAS can promote the recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function and reduce the pain intensity 48 h after surgery, thus satisfying the need of early postoperative analgesia.