Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Early Recovery of Bowel Function in Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 1

Basic characteristics of the included studies.

Study (years)	Cancer type	Intervention group	Control group	The main points	Treatment course	Main outcome	Results	Sample size (I/N)
Garcia et al. 2008 [23]	NR	MA	NA	ST-36 (Zusanli), ST-25 (Tianshu), LI-4 (Hegu), SP-6 (Sanyinjiao), CV-6 (Qihai), CV-12 (Zhongwan)	20 min, 2x/d for 4 d, on po-day 1	(1) TFF/TFD; (2) OC/LH; (3) Pain	No reduction	78 (38/40)
Yin et al. 2009 [24]	Gastric cancer	MA + decoction	decoction	ST-36 (Zusanli), SP-6 (Sanyinjiao), PC-6 (Neiguan), LR3 (Taichong)	45 min, 1x/d for 7 d, on po-day 3	(1) TFF/TFD; (2) TFB	Decreased TFF/TFD and TFB	60 (30/30)
Meng et al. 2010 [25]	Colorectal cancer	EA	NA	ST-36 (Zusanli), ST-37 (Shangjuxu), TE-6 (Zhigou), GB-34 (Yanglingquan)	20 min, 1x/d for 6 d, on po-day 1	(1) TFF/TFD; (2) Pain	No reduction	85 (44/41)
Chao et al. 2013 [26]	Colorectal cancer	AC	SAC	ST-36 (Zusanli)	3 min. 3x/d for 5 d, on po-day 1	(1) TFF/TFD	Decreased TFF	60 (30/30)
Zhang and Du 2011 [27]	Colorectal cancer	MA	NA	ST-36 (Zusanli), SP-6 (Sanyinjiao), SP-9 (Yinlingquan), ST-37 (Shangjuxu), ST-39 (Xiajuxu)	45 min, 1x/d for 10 d, on po-day 1	(1) TFF/TFD; (2) TFB	Decreased TFF/TFD and TFB	70 (35/35)
Ng et al. 2013 [28]	Colorectal cancer	EA	NA/SEA	ST-36 (Zusanli), SP-6 (Sanyinjiao), LI-4 (Hegu), TE-6 (Zhigou)	20 min, 1x/d for 4 d, on po-day 1	(1) TFF/TFD; (2) TFB; (3) Pain; (4) OC	Decreased TFD/DH	165 (55/55/55)
Deng et al. 2013 [29]	Colorectal cancer	MA	SMA	ST-36 (Zusanli), PC-6 (Neiguan), LI-4 (Hegu), SP-6 (Sanyinjiao), SP-9 (Yinlingquan), ST-25 (Tianshu), auricular shenmen	30 min, 2x/d for 3 d, on po-day 1	(1) OC; (2) Pain	No reduction	81 (39/42)
Zhang et al. 2014 [30]	Colorectal cancer	EA	SEA	ST-36 (Zusanli)	30 min, 1x/d for 4 d, on po-day 1	(1) TFF/TFB; (2) TFD; (3) OC/LH	Decreased TFF and TFB	39 (19/20)
Tong et al. 2014 [31]	Rectal cancer	MA	NA	ST-36 (Zusanli), PC-6 (Neiguan), ST-37 (Shangjuxu), SP-4 (Gongsun)	30 min, 1x/d, on po-day 1	(1) TFF/TFD; (2) TFB	Decreased TFF/TFD and TFB	84 (42/42)
Hsiung et al. 2015 [32]	Gastric cancer	AC	NAC	ST-36 (Zusanli), PC-6 (Neiguan)	12 min. 1x/d for 3 d, on po-day 1	(1) TFF/TFD; (2) Pain	Decreased TFF	54 (26/28)

MA: manual acupuncture; SMA: sham manual acupuncture; EA: electroacupuncture; SEA: sham electroacupuncture; NA: no acupuncture or usual care; AC: acupressure; SAC: sham acupressure; NAC: no acupressure or usual care; I/C: intervention group versus control group; D: days; Min: minutes; PO: postoperative; NR: not reported; 2x/d for 3d, twice daily, 3 days; LH: length of hospital stay; OC: opioids consumption; TFF: time to first flatus; TFB: time to first bowel sound; TFD: time to first defecation.