Effect of electric acupoint stimulation on gastrointestinal hormones and motility among geriatric postoperative patients with gastrointestinal tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of electric acupoint stimulation on gastrointestinal hormones and motility among geriatric postoperative patients with gastrointestinal tumors, and to explore an efficient and noninvasive method for postoperative recovery of bowel functions.

METHODS: Forty patients were randomly and evenly assigned into a regular nursing care group (RNC) and an acupoint electric stimulation group (AES). Patients in the RNC group received regular nursing care and patients in the AES group received regular nursing care plus electric stimulation of acupoints. The serum levels of gastrin (GAS), motilin (MOT), and cholecystokinin (CCK), and an electrogastrogram (EGG) of all the patients were evaluated on the first, third, and fifth day after surgery. The time to first flatus after surgery and the number of patients with side effects such as abdominal pain, abdominal distention, and diarrhea were recorded.

RESULTS: There were significant differences between the two groups in GAS, MOT, EGG, time to first flatus, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, and diarrhea (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Electric stimulation on acupoints could increase levels of GAS and MOT, promote the recovery of gastrointestinal functions, and decrease complications among postoperative senile patients with gastrointestinal tumors.