title: Electro-acupuncture to prevent prolonged postoperative ileus: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: M Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Hui-Ting
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Ying-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Lu-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhong-Xing
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen-Ying
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Bei
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: J Lynn
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McQuade
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: 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