Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Treatment of Postoperative Ileus in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Delays in recovery of intestinal function following abdominal surgery are associated with longer hospital stays, increased postoperative complications, and higher costs to the health care system. Studies of acupuncture for postoperative ileus and other postoperative issues have reported improvements. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess whether acupuncture assisted recovery following surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from major English and Chinese language biomedical databases. Participants (aged 18 years plus) had received surgical resection for CRC. 22 studies (1,628 participants) were included. Five were sham-controlled. Outcomes included gastrointestinal function recovery (21 studies), recovery of urinary function (1 study), postoperative abdominal distension (3 studies), and quality of life (1 study). Meta-analyses found significant reductions in time to first bowel sounds, first flatus, and first defecation in both the sham-controlled and nonblinded studies. These results suggested that the addition of acupuncture following CRC surgery improved recovery of gastrointestinal function based on four blinded good quality RCTs (281 participants) and 17 nonblinded lower quality RCTs (1,265 participants). The best available evidence was for interventions that included electroacupuncture at the point ST36 Zusanli and there is supporting evidence for other types of acupuncture therapies that involve stimulation of this point. This review is registered with the following: systematic review registration in PROSPERO: CRD42017079590.

Efficacy of electro-acupuncture for gastrointestinal motility after colorectal cancer surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…The first reason for this decision is that the outcomes of gastric motility recovery are relatively objective, and the placebo effect has little effect on results. In addition, a systematic review suggested that acupuncture has a better effect than sham acupuncture for promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal function [31] . The purpose of this study is to verify whether routine treatment combined with EA is superior to routine treatment alone for gastrointestinal motility recovery after colorectal cancer surgery; thus, we chose routine treatment as the control group.…”

Acupuncture for the Postcholecystectomy Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

“…(2) Secondary Outcomes . (1) The recovery of gastrointestinal function (first defecation time, first flatus time, and first bowel sounds time) [ 28 ]. (2) Adverse effects (relevant symptoms caused by acupuncture).…”

Effect of laser acupuncture on adhesive small bowel obstruction

“…Laser acupuncture (LA) combines the characteristics of traditional metal-needle acupuncture and low-level laser therapy. While acupuncture has been reported to promote the recovery time of postoperative ileus in patients with colorectal cancer, [ 5 ] the application of LA for ASBO is very rare, and only 1 pre-clinical study has shown low level laser therapy to be effective in preventing intra-abdominal adhesions in rabbits without compromising the strength and healing of the abdominal wall. [ 6 ] We assume that conventional treatment combined with LA will be effective for reducing the need for surgery through eliminating the symptoms of ASBO.…”