Clinical efficacy on transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation to regulate intestinal microbiota homeostasis and alleviate paralytic intestinal obstruction after colorectal surgery
ZHANG Li-jing,ZHANG Li-min,ZHUO Jie
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in regulating gut microbiota homeostasis to alleviate postoperative paralytic ileus following colorectal surgery. Methods A total of 110 patients with paralytic ileus who underwent colorectal surgery at the First Hospital of Baoding from September 2020 to October 2022 were recruited and divided into the TEAS group (n=60) and the conventional treatment group (n=50) according to the treatment protocol. The relative abundance of gut microbiota, alpha diversity indices, and beta diversity (PERMANOVA test based on Bray-Curtis distance) were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Intestinal motility recovery was assessed through clinical observation and abdominal palpation, and the frequency of bowel movements within 1 hour was recorded. Gastrointestinal function was compared between the two groups using a gastrointestinal function assessment questionnaire. The improvement in clinical symptoms was also compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the conventional treatment group, the relative abundances of microbial flora such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Clostridium, and Lactobacillus acidophilus in the transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation group increased. The Shannon index and Simpson index of the intestinal flora were higher in the transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation group than in the conventional treatment group (P <0.05), and there was a significant difference in the overall structure of the flora (β diversity) between the two groups (P <0.05). In the transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation group, the frequency of intestinal peristalsis increased compared with the conventional treatment group, the recovery time of intestinal motility was shorter, the gastrointestinal function score was lower, the relief rates of abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and nausea and vomiting were higher, and the improvement rate of exhaust and defecation was higher (P <0.05). Conclusion Percutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation may regulate intestinal microbiota homeostasis, promote intestinal peristalsis, improve gastrointestinal function, and alleviate clinical symptoms of paralytic intestinal obstruction.
