Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation Improves Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation by Accelerating Colon...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Physiology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) is characterized by slow colon transit and visceral hypersensitivity.
• Current therapies often fail to address both abdominal pain and colonic motility issues effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term efficacy and underlying mechanisms of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) for managing IBS-C.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 52 IBS-C patients comparing daily TEA versus sham-TEA for 4 weeks.
• Outcomes included complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs), symptom severity, quality of life, colonic transit time, and anorectal physiology.

Main Results:

• TEA significantly improved CSBMs/week, reduced abdominal pain (VAS score), and improved quality of life compared to sham-TEA.
• TEA accelerated colonic transit time and increased rectal sensation thresholds.
• Increased vagal activity was observed with TEA, correlating with improved colon transit and CSBMs.

Conclusions:

• Transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) offers a promising therapeutic option for IBS-C.
• TEA alleviates constipation and abdominal pain by enhancing colon transit and modulating rectal sensation, potentially through autonomic pathways.