Blood-letting cupping therapy for incision infection after laparoscopic surgery: a case report

Laparoscopic surgery, as a minimally invasive technique, has gained widespread recognition in clinical practice over recent decades. However, surgical site infection (SSI) following laparoscopy remains a concern that cannot be overlooked. SSI refers to infections related to surgery that occur within 30 days after the operative procedure at or near the surgical incision, or within 12 months if an implant is placed, and includes superficial incisional, deep incisional, and organ/space infections. According to current epidemiological data, the incidence of incisional SSI after laparoscopic surgery ranges from 0.22 to 27.03%. Although the majority of patients recover from this complication, worsening of the infection can lead to prolonged hospitalization, the requirement for reoperation, and even elevated mortality, particularly among immunocompromised patients. This issue remains a key concern for surgeons. Here, we present the clinical course of a 75-year-old female patient who developed incisional surgical site infection after laparoscopic intra-abdominal lesion biopsy for cholangiocarcinoma. In this individual case, the patient manifested typical infectious manifestations including incision inflammation, elevated CRP level, and fever. After receiving a total of five sessions of adjuvant blood-letting cupping therapy tailored to her clinical condition, the local incision infection was gradually resolved, and the patient's inflammatory markers returned to normal range. No infectious recurrence was observed during the 3-month postoperative follow-up.