[Effect of auricular point pressure on postoperative constipation in children with hypospadias]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Background:

• Postoperative constipation is a common complication in children following hypospadias surgery.
• Effective management strategies are needed to improve patient recovery and reduce hospital stays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of auricular point pressure in managing postoperative constipation in pediatric hypospadias patients.

Main Methods:

• 164 children undergoing hypospadias surgery were randomized into two groups: standard care (control) and standard care plus auricular point pressure (observation).
• Auricular points (shenmen, dachang, xiaochang, zhichang, pizhixia) were stimulated for 1-2 minutes, three times daily, from pre-surgery to postoperative day 5.
• Outcomes measured included constipation incidence, time to first bowel movement, and complication rates.

Main Results:

• The observation group showed a significantly lower incidence of postoperative constipation (P<0.001).
• Children receiving auricular point pressure experienced a shorter time to their first postoperative bowel movement (P<0.001).
• No significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications was observed between the groups (P>0.05).

Conclusions:

• Auricular point pressure is an effective intervention for reducing postoperative constipation in pediatric hypospadias patients.
• This therapy promotes faster gastrointestinal function recovery after hypospadias surgery.
• Auricular point pressure offers a safe and beneficial complementary treatment option.