Brief Article
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2010; 16(1): 104-111
Published online Jan 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i1.104
Electro-acupuncture to prevent prolonged postoperative ileus: A randomized clinical trial
Zhi-Qiang Meng, M Kay Garcia, Joseph S Chiang, Hui-Ting Peng, Ying-Qiang Shi, Jie Fu, Lu-Ming Liu, Zhong-Xing Liao, Ying Zhang, Wen-Ying Bei, Bob Thornton, J Lynn Palmer, Jennifer McQuade, Lorenzo Cohen
Zhi-Qiang Meng, Hui-Ting Peng, Jie Fu, Lu-Ming Liu, Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai 200032, China
M Kay Garcia, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine/Integrative Medicine, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Joseph S Chiang, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Zhi-Qiang Meng, Ying-Qiang Shi, Jie Fu, Lu-Ming Liu, Ying Zhang, Wen-Ying Bei, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China
Ying-Qiang Shi, Department of Abdominal Surgery, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai 200032, China
Zhong-Xing Liao, Department of Radiation Oncology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Ying Zhang, Wen-Ying Bei, International Center of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai 200032, China
Bob Thornton, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, United States
J Lynn Palmer, Lorenzo Cohen, Department of Behavioral Science, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Jennifer McQuade, Department of GI Medical Oncology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Author contributions: Meng ZQ and Garcia MK are both first authors who oversaw all aspects of the study and wrote the manuscript; Peng HT and Fu J performed the acupuncture treatments; Zhang Y and Bei WY were research nurses responsible for recruiting and consenting patients and for data collection and management; Shi YQ oversaw all surgical aspects of the study and helped with patient recruitment; Palmer JL provided the statistical analysis; Thornton B, McQuade J and Liao ZX assisted with language translation throughout the study and writing of the manuscript; Chiang JS assisted with language translation, protocol development and oversaw all clinical aspects of the study; Cohen L and Liu LM were responsible for all administrative and financial aspects of protocol development, study implementation, and writing of the manuscript.
Supported by US National Cancer Institute (NCI) grants CA108084 and CA12153031
Correspondence to: Lu-Ming Liu, MD, PhD, Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai 200032, China. llm1010@163.com
Telephone: +86-21-64175590 Fax: +86-21-64437657
Received: August 20, 2009
Revised: November 12, 2009
Accepted: November 19, 2009
Published online: January 7, 2010
Abstract

AIM: 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.

CONCLUSION: Acupuncture did not prevent PPOI and was not useful for treating PPOI once it had developed in this population.

Keywords: Acupuncture; Gastrointestinal motility; Gastrointestinal disorders; Gastrointestinal neoplasms