Effect of electroacupuncture at different time points on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after surgery for gastrointestinal malignant neoplasms

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at different time points during the perioperative period on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after gastrointestinal malignant neoplasms surgery. Methods Sixty-three patients who needed radical surgery for gastrointestinal tumors were randomized into a control group, treatment group 1 (postoperative EA group), and treatment group 2 (intraoperative and postoperative EA group). The control group received surgery and conventional Western medicine treatment, and treatment groups 1 and 2 received additional EA treatment at different time points. The initial flatus time after the surgery, visual analog scale (VAS) score at different time points after the surgery, the proportion of using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after the surgery, and the times of adding analgesics were observed in the three groups. Results The initial flatus time after the surgery was earlier in treatment groups 1 and 2 than in the control group ( P 0.05). The VAS score was lower in treatment group 2 than in the control group at 6, 12, 24, and 72 h after the surgery ( P