Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Treatment of Postoperative Ileus in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Table 2
Acupuncture therapy versus sham acupuncture therapy for recovery of gastrointestinal function.
Outcome
Treatment type, cancer, participants (number)
Acupuncture therapy
Effect Size MD [95 CI]
Study ID No.†
I2
Time to first bowel sounds (hours)
Open surgery, CRC (39)
Electro-acup.
-6.00 [-13.26, 1.26]
21
Open surgery, elderly, CRC (72)
Point application
-15.8 [-19.61, -11.99]
18
Pooled result (111) 2 RCTs
All acupuncture therapies
-11.41 [-20.96, -1.85] 81.8%
18, 21
Time to first flatus (hours)
Laparoscopic surgery, CRC (110)
Electro-acup.
-7.20 [-16.21, 1.81]
7
Open surgery, CRC (39)
Electro-acup.
-9.00 [-19.09, 1.09]
21
Pooled result (149)
Electro-acup.
-8.00 [-14.72, -1.28] 0%
7, 21
Open surgery, CRC (60)
Acupressure
-19.92 [-32.57, -7.27]
1
Open surgery, elderly, CRC (72)
Point application
-26.30 [-32.81, -19.79]
18
Pooled result (281) 4 RCTs
All acupuncture therapies
-15.79 [-26.10, -5.49] 79.9%
1, 7, 18, 21
Time to first defecation (hours)
Laparoscopic surgery, CRC (110)
Electro-acup.
-21.60 [-37.10, -6.11]
7
Open surgery, CRC (39)
Electro-acup.
-4.00 [-34.81, 26.81]
21
Pooled result (149)
Electro-acup.
-18.04 [-31.90, -4.19] 0.1%
7, 21
Open surgery, CRC (60)
Acupressure
-12.00 [-31.60, 7.60]
1
Open surgery, elderly, CRC (72)
Point application
-39.80 [-48.16, -31.44]
18
Pooled result (281)4 RCTs
All acupuncture therapies
-22.42 [-39.14, -5.70] 75.4%
1, 7, 18, 21
Time to first liquid intake (days)
Open surgery, CRC (60)
Acupressure
-0.83 [-1.45, -0.21]
1
Time to resume normal diet (days)
Laparoscopic surgery, CRC (110)
Electro-acup.
-0.10 [-0.46, 0.26]
7
Frequency of bowel sounds at 40 hours1
Open surgery, CRC (60)
Acupressure
3.43 [0.77, 6.09]
1
means statistically significant; see Table 1; 1: frequency per minute assessed during a three minute interval. CI: confidence interval; MD: mean difference.
