Electro-acupuncture to prevent prolonged postoperative ileus: a randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether acupuncture can prevent prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) after intraperitoneal surgery for colon cancer.


METHODS
Ninety patients were recruited from the Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China. After surgery, patients were randomized to receive acupuncture (once daily, starting on postoperative day 1, for up to six consecutive days) or usual care. PPOI was defined as an inability to pass flatus or have a bowel movement by 96 h after surgery. The main outcomes were time to first flatus, time to first bowel movement, and electrogastroenterography. Secondary outcomes were quality of life (QOL) measures, including pain, nausea, insomnia, abdominal distension/fullness, and sense of well-being.


RESULTS
No significant differences in PPOI on day 4 (P = 0.71) or QOL measures were found between the groups. There were also no group differences when the data were analyzed by examining those whose PPOI had resolved by day 5 (P = 0.69) or day 6 (P = 0.88). No adverse events related to acupuncture were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture did not prevent PPOI and was not useful for treating PPOI once it had developed in this population.
Meng
Zhi-Qiang
ZQ
Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai 200032, China.
Garcia
M Kay
MK
Chiang
Joseph S
JS
Peng
Hui-Ting
HT
Shi
Ying-Qiang
YQ
Fu
Jie
J
Liu
Lu-Ming
LM
Liao
Zhong-Xing
ZX
Zhang
Ying
Y
Bei
Wen-Ying
WY
Thornton
Bob
B
Palmer
J Lynn
JL
McQuade
Jennifer
J
Cohen
Lorenzo
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D003672:Defecation; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure