title: Effect of Acupuncture on Reducing Duration of Postoperative Ileus After Gastrectomy in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Pilot Study Using Sitz Marker.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common problem after abdominal surgery. Acupuncture is being accepted as an option for reducing POI and managing various functional gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, this pilot study was conducted to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on reducing duration of POI and other surgical outcomes in patients who underwent gastric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study was conducted on patients who underwent gastric cancer surgery from January 2013 to December 2013. Ten patients were randomly assigned into the acupuncture (A) or nonacupuncture (NA) groups at a 1:1 ratio.
  
  
  METHODS
  The acupuncture treatment was performed by Korean traditional medicine doctors (KMDs). The style of acupuncture was Korean. In the A group, acupuncture treatment was given once daily for 5 consecutive days starting on postoperative day 1. Each patient received acupuncture at 16 acupoints based on expert consensus provided by qualified and experienced KMDs. No acupuncture treatment was performed in the NA group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was the number of remnant Sitz markers in the small intestine on abdominal radiography. Secondary outcome measures were time to first flatus, start of sips water, start of soft diet, hospital stay, and laboratory findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The A group had significantly fewer remnant Sitz markers in the small intestine on postoperative days 3 and 5 compared with those in the NA group (p = 0.025 and 0.005). A significant difference was observed in the numbers of remnant Sitz marker in the small intestine with respect to time difference by group (p = 0.019). The A group showed relatively better surgical outcomes, but without statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although further studies are warranted, acupuncture may reduce duration of POI after gastric surgery and could be a potential factor in enhanced recovery after surgery protocols.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu , Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University , Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Ah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu , Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Hwan
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D057918:Fiducial Markers; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*