Abstract

The main objective of this study is to investigate the added therapeutic value of acupuncture+parecoxib sodium therapy on bowel function recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. According to the calendar periods of the hospital admission, we retrospectively included 173 patients who received laparoscopic cholecystectomy, some of whom received acupuncture at Zusanli, Yanglingquan, and Taichong combined with parecoxib sodium therapy. Of the 173 patients included, 53 (30.6 %) received postoperative acupuncture plus parecoxib sodium therapy. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics of the patients (p>0.05). Gastrointestinal symptoms and time taken for first anal exhaust or first defecation after the surgery were studied as outcomes to evaluate the recovery of bowel function. Patients who received acupuncture plus parecoxib sodium therapy experienced fewer gastrointestinal symptoms including bloating (11.3 % vs. 25.8 %, p=0.032) and constipation (13.2 % vs. 27.5 %, p=0.040), a shorter time to first anal exhaust (37.7±11.3 h vs. 44.2±14.6 h, p=0.005) and time to first defecation (60.3±18.7 h vs. 68.4±21.1 h, p=0.017), and fewer prescriptions of gastric prokinetic agents (28.3 % vs. 45.8 %, p=0.030) compared to those patients, who did not receive any acupuncture treatment (parecoxib sodium monotherapy). In addition to standard care, acupuncture at Zusanli, Yanglingquan, and Taichong+parecoxib sodium therapy facilitates the recovery of bowel function after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.