[Effects of electroacupuncture on gastrointestinal dysfunction and serum metabolites in postoperative patients with gastric cancer].

Recovering from stomach cancer surgery is a serious undertaking, and getting your digestive system working again quickly is one of the most important milestones. A new study published in Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion explored whether electroacupuncture — a form of acupuncture that uses a gentle electrical current through the needles — could help patients recover their digestive function faster after laparoscopic stomach cancer surgery.

In the study, 60 patients were divided into two groups. Both groups received standard post-surgical care, but one group also received electroacupuncture at three well-known acupuncture points: Zusanli (ST36) and Shangjuxu (ST37) on the lower leg, and Neiguan (PC6) on the wrist. Treatments were given at 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours after waking from anesthesia, with each session lasting 30 minutes.

The results were encouraging. Patients who received electroacupuncture passed gas sooner, had their first bowel movement earlier, were able to drink fluids sooner, and got up and walked around earlier than patients who received standard care alone. They also reported significantly less pain 72 hours after surgery.

Researchers went a step further by analyzing patients' blood using a technique called metabolomics, which identifies chemical markers in the body. They found 10 unique biological markers linked to the electroacupuncture treatment, suggesting it may work by reducing inflammation, improving the balance of gut bacteria, and helping protect the intestinal lining.

For patients facing stomach cancer surgery, this research suggests that electroacupuncture could be a safe, drug-free complement to standard care that supports a faster, more comfortable recovery. If you are preparing for or recovering from surgery, speak with a licensed acupuncture practitioner who has experience working in integrative oncology settings to explore whether this approach is right for you.

This RCT (n=60) investigated electroacupuncture (EA) as an adjunct to standardized perioperative care following laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. The treatment group received EA at bilateral ST36, ST37, and PC6 at 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-anesthesia recovery; EA was applied between ipsilateral ST36 and ST37 using continuous wave at 50 Hz and 0.1–1 mA for 30 minutes per session. The EA group demonstrated statistically significant improvements across all primary gastrointestinal recovery endpoints: earlier time to first flatus, first defecation, first oral fluid intake, and first ambulation (all P<0.05). Pain VAS scores at 72 hours post-operation were also significantly lower in the EA group (P<0.05). Serum metabolomics analysis identified 10 characteristic biomarkers associated with EA intervention, including 1-Methylguanine and (2-Aminoethoxy)acetic acid, implicating mechanisms involving attenuation of inflammatory responses, modulation of gut microbiota, and stabilization of intestinal barrier integrity. These findings support the integration of perioperative EA protocols targeting ST36, ST37, and PC6 to enhance enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) outcomes in gastric cancer patients.