Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Reduces Postoperative Abdominal Pain after Endoscopic Submucosal...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pain Management
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a minimally invasive procedure for early gastric and esophageal neoplasms.
• Postoperative pain and nausea/vomiting are common complications following ESD.
• Effective pain management strategies are crucial for patient recovery after ESD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of perioperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in reducing postoperative abdominal pain after ESD.
• To assess the impact of TEAS on opioid consumption and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).
• To analyze the influence of TEAS on intraoperative hemodynamic parameters and gastrointestinal function recovery.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 129 patients undergoing ESD.
• Patients were assigned to either TEAS or sham stimulation groups.
• TEAS was applied bilaterally at specific acupoints (LI 4, PC 6, ST 36, ST 37) during the procedure.

Main Results:

• TEAS significantly reduced the incidence of moderate-to-severe pain within 24 hours post-ESD (37.9% vs. 64.5%, P=0.004).
• Opioid consumption was significantly lower in the TEAS group (32.7% vs. 64.5%, P<0.01).
• TEAS also showed a trend towards reducing PONV (P=0.06).

Conclusions:

• Perioperative TEAS is an effective method for alleviating postoperative pain after ESD.
• TEAS offers a morphine-sparing effect and reduces PONV occurrence.
• TEAS is a promising non-pharmacological intervention for enhancing recovery after ESD.