Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation based on the theory of " ascending and descending movement" on autonomic nervous system and gastrointestinal function in patients after general anesthesia laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objectives: To observe the therapeutic effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) based on the theory of " ascending and descending movement" in patients after general anesthesia laparoscopic cholecystectomy, so as to explore the impact of TEAS on the autonomic nervous system and gastrointestinal function of patients.

Methods: A total of 204 patients scheduled to undergo general anesthesia laparoscopic cholecystectomy were selected and randomly divided into control, double acupoints and multiple acupoints groups, with 68 cases in each group. For patients in the multiple acupoints group, TEAS was applied at Zusanli (ST36), Tiantu (CV22), Danzhong (CV17), Zhongwan (CV12), Taichong (LR3), and Neiguan (PC6) 30 min before anesthesia induction until the end of the surgery. In the double acupoints group, TEAS was applied only at ST36 and PC6. No electrical stimulation was applied in the control group. The postoperative bloating, bowel sound recovery time, first farting time, first defecation time, length of hospital stay, nausea and vomiting were compared among the three groups. Heart rate variability was monitored by twelve-lead electrocardiogram to evaluate the autonomic nervous function of the patients, including the low frequency power/high frequency power ratio (LF/HF), the standard deviation of all sinus RR intervals (SDNN), and the root mean square of difference between successive normal RR intervals (RMSSD).

Results: At 6 h and 24 h after surgery, the symptoms of bloating, nausea and vomiting in the multiple acupoints group and double acupoints group were significantly improved compared to the control group (<0.05), and the multiple acupoints group was superior to the double acupoints group (<0.05). Compared with the control group, the bowel sound recovery time, first farting time, first defecation time, and length of hospital stay were significantly shorter (<0.05) in the multiple acupoints group and double acupoints group, and the multiple acupoints group was superior to the double acupoints group (<0.05). At 1 d and 2 d after surgery, compared with the control group, LF/HF was decreased (<0.05) while SDNN and RMSSD were increased (<0.05) in the multiple acupoints group and double acupoints group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (<0.05).

Conclusions: TEAS treatment based on the theory of " ascending and descending movement" can relieve gastrointestinal dysfunction, reduce early postoperative sympathetic nerve excitement and maintain parasympathetic nerve tension in patients after general anesthesia laparoscopic cholecystectomy, thereby promoting gastrointestinal function recovery.