Review Article

Acupuncture for the Postcholecystectomy Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 2

Main characteristics of included RCTs.

Study (reference)CountrySample size (A)/(B)Mean age (A)/(B)Gender (M : F) (A)/(B)(A) Treatment group(B)Control groupAcupointsOutcomesConclusion (+/−)
Primary outcomesSecondary outcomes
Erden et al., 2017 [31]Turkey31/2946.77/45.64A: (6 : 25) B: (3 : 25)MA + (B)CM (tramadol)Ri Yue (GB24), Yang Ling Quan (GB34), Guang Ming (GB37), di Wu Hui (GB42), Xing Jian (LR2), Nei Gu (PC6), He Gu (LI4)Postoperative pain scores (NRS)(1) Postoperate satisfaction index
(2) Analgesic consumption
Despite detection of a reduction in postoperative pain scores, the application of acupuncture did not cause any change in the consumption of tramadol (+)
Chang et al., 2019 [32]China45/45(39.72 ± 5.08)/c(39.41 ± 5.25)A: (31 : 14) B: (28 : 17)EA + (B)CMSan Yin Jiao (SP6), Nei Guan (PC6), Zu san Li (ST37)The recovery of gastrointestinal function (first defecation time, 1st flatus time, and 1st bowel sounds time)(1) Visual analogue rating of nausea
(2) Ventriculin
Electroacupuncture can promote postoperative recovery of patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy and regulate gastric peristalsis (+)
Cui 2006 [33]China275/11239.6/40.5A: (85 : 190)cB: (23 : 89)EA + TCM + (B)CMZu san Li (ST38)The recovery of gastrointestinal function (first defecation time, 1st flatus time, and 1st bowel sounds time)Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine can promote postoperative recovery of patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (+)
Xiaoqian 2018 [34]China50/50(50.5 ± 7.0)/(50.3 ± 5.0)(40 : 60)AM + (B)CM (cisapride)Zhong Wan (RN12), Dan shu (BL19), Gan shu (BL18), Nei Guan (PC6), Zu san Li (ST36)The clinical curative effect(1) The recovery of gastrointestinal function (first defecation time, 1st flatus time, and 1st bowel sounds time)
(2) PONV
MA can promote recovery of gastrointestinal function after cystic resection adjustment (+)
Shangbo 2016 [35]China30/30(46.27 ± 6.39)/(45.72 ± 6.18)A: (17 : 13) B: (14 : 16)MA + (B)CMGong sun (SP4), shang Ju Xu (ST37), Nei Guan (PC6), Zu san Li (ST36)Postoperative pain scores(1) The recovery of gastrointestinal function (first defecation time, 1st flatus time, and 1st bowel sounds time)
(2) Ventriculin (GAS)
(3) PONV
For patients undergoing cholecystectomy, acupuncture on the basis of CM therapy can achieve better efficacy than CM of patients (+)
Hui 2018 [36]China76/76(37.6 ± 5.1)/(35.8 ± 8.5)A: (41 : 35) B: (39 : 37)EA + auricular therapy + (B)CMNei Guan (PC6), He Gu (LI4), Zu san Li (ST36)Postoperative pain scores(1) The recovery of gastrointestinal function (first flatus time and 1st bowel sounds time)
(2) PONV
Electroacupuncture combined with auricular therapy can significantly improve the recovery of patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (+)
Liu and Zhang 2013 [37]China55/55(51.4 ± 10.2)/(50.6 ± 9.7)A: (16 : 39) B: (18 : 37)MACM (ondansetron)Nei Guan (PC6), Tian Tu (RN22), Zu san Li (ST37), Ju Que (RN14), Xia Wan (RN10), Bu Rong (ST19), Tai Yi (ST23)PONVAdverse eventsAcupuncture is efficacy and safe in treating vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (+)
Shen 2017 [38]China37/3749.3(26 : 48)AM + TCM + (B)CMYang Ling Quan (GB34), Zu san Li (ST38), san Yin Jiao (SP6), Nei Guan (PC6)The recovery of gastrointestinal function (first flatus time and 1st bowel sounds time)(1) PONV.
(2) Adverse events
After cholecystectomy, acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine can shorten the recovery time of gastrointestinal function and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions (+)
Shen 2014 [39]China57/57(36.5 ± 12.7)/(35.0 ± 11.3)A: (26 : 31) B: (25 : 32)MA + (B)CM (metoclopramide)Nei Guan (PC6), Tian Tu (RN22), Zu san Li (ST37), Ju Que (RN14), Xia Wan (RN10), Bu Rong (ST19), Tai Yi (ST23)The clinical curative effectAdverse eventsMetaclopramide and acupuncture are effective in treating PONV with minor adverse reaction (+)
Jing 2017 [40]China40/40(47.23 ± 11.68)/(48.12 ± 14.47)A: (17 : 23) B: (17 : 23)MA + (B)CMShang Ju Xu (ST37), Zu san Li (ST36), san Yin Jiao (SP6)The recovery of gastrointestinal function (first defecation time, 1st flatus time, and 1st bowel sounds time)(1) The clinical curative effect
(2) Adverse events
Acupuncture is efficacy and safe in treating the recovery of gastrointestinal function after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (+)
Wang 2016 [41]China30/30(53.50 ± 8.30)/(51.30 ± 8.10)A: (13 : 17) B: (14 : 16)EACM (morphine)Zu san Li (ST37), Tai Chong (ST23), Yang Ling Quan (GB34)Pain intensity, the nausea incidence and the vomiting incidenceThe recovery of gastrointestinal function (first defecation time and 1st flatus time)Electroacupuncture could effectively relieve postoperative pain and promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after operation, which reduced the incidence of PONV without excessive sedation (+)
Xiaobing and Jiahe 2018 [42]China52/52(55.23 ± 3.4)/(56.37 ± 3.1)A: (30 : 22) B: (24 : 28)MA + (B)CMZu san Li (ST37), Xia Wan (RN10), Zhong Wan (RN12), Guan Yuan (RN4), Hua Rou Men (ST24), Qi Hai (RN6)The clinical effective(1) The recovery of gastrointestinal function (first defecation time and 1st flatus time)
(2) Ventriculin (MMP-9, TIMP-1)
(3) Quality of life
Moxibustion and combined with MA for postoperative gastrointestinal function in patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy has good therapeutic significance (+)
Xiao 2012 [43]China60/6018–78A: (44 : 16) B: (40 : 20)MACM (fentanyl and morphine)Yang Ling Quan (GB34), He Gu (LI4), Zu san Li (ST38), san Yin Jiao (SP6), Nei Guan (PC6), Dan Nang (EX-LE6), A shi pointPostoperative pain scoresAdverse eventsAcupuncture is effective in the analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and has fewer adverse reactions such as the digestive tract (+)
Yang and Liu 2008 [44]China32/30(68.59 ± 2.44)/(69.97 ± 1.59)A: (11 : 21) B: (8 : 22)EA + (B)CMZu san Li (ST38), san Yin Jiao (SP6)The recovery of gastrointestinal function (1st flatus time)The treatment of acupuncture can accelerate the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (+)