Key Finding
This protocol outlines a planned systematic review to assess whether acupoint stimulation can improve pain, bowel function recovery, and reduce complications following caesarean section surgery.
This study outlines a plan to review research on acupuncture and acupoint stimulation for women recovering from caesarean section (C-section) surgery. While C-sections are sometimes medically necessary, recovery can be challenging with issues like pain, slow bowel function, nausea, and extended hospital stays. Current pain medications can have side effects, so researchers want to explore whether acupuncture might help.
The research team will search major medical databases to find all existing studies on acupoint stimulation used after C-sections. They'll look at several outcomes: how much pain women experience, how quickly their digestive system returns to normal (measured by first bowel movement and bowel sounds), complications like nausea and vomiting, anxiety and depression levels, hospital stay length, and how much pain medication is needed.
This is a protocol paper, meaning it describes the plan for conducting the review rather than presenting results. The actual findings aren't yet available. The researchers will use advanced statistical methods to combine results from multiple studies and determine whether acupuncture truly helps or if the evidence is still inconclusive.
For women who have C-sections scheduled, this future review may provide clearer guidance on whether acupuncture could support their recovery. The non-drug approach could potentially reduce pain medication needs and speed recovery of normal body functions after surgery. Once the review is complete, it will help both patients and doctors make more informed decisions about including acupuncture in post-surgical care plans. If considering acupuncture for post-surgical recovery, consult with a licensed acupuncturist experienced in postpartum care.
This systematic review protocol aims to evaluate acupoint stimulation efficacy in perioperative caesarean section management. Researchers will conduct comprehensive searches across PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases from inception through August 2025. Primary outcomes include postoperative pain, time to first defecation, first bowel movement, and return of bowel sounds. Secondary outcomes encompass postoperative complications (nausea, vomiting, bloating, anxiety, depression), hospital length of stay, and morphine consumption. The protocol incorporates robust methodology including subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and sensitivity analyses to investigate heterogeneity sources and result stability. Trial sequential analysis will be employed to enhance evidence reliability and assess whether accumulated evidence is sufficient for conclusive recommendations. This represents a protocol publication only; actual results are pending. The review will synthesize existing evidence to guide clinical decision-making regarding non-pharmacological perioperative interventions for caesarean delivery patients. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42024558572.
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