Objective To observe the effect of low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation on gastrointestinal motility in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy

and its impact on regulation of inflammatory response

so as to evaluate its clinical value.Methods A total of 177 patients undergoing radical gastrectomy were randomly divided into conventional group(n=43)

lowfrequency electrical acupoint stimulation(LEAS)group(n=45)

fast track surgery(FTS)group(n=46)and FTS+LEAS group(n=43).Patients of the conventional group received conventional treatment(pre-surgical mechanical bowel preparation

postsurgical fasting

and indwelling abdominal drainage tube

etc.).Patients in the LEAS group were treated by low-frequency electrical stimulation at bilateral Zusanli(ST36)

Shangjuxu(ST37)

Xiajuxu(ST39)and Sanyinjiao(SP6)for 30 min

once daily from 1 day after the operation to first postoperative flatus.FTS group was given fast track surgery treatment

such as preoperative education

preoperative nutritional support

early oral feeding

early removal of abdominal drainage tube

etc.The FTS+LEAS group was given low-frequency electrical acupoint stimulation on the basis of the FTS treatment.Levels of white blood cells(WBC)

neutrophils(N)

C-reactive protein(CRP)

interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)at 1

3

and 6 d after the operation in the 4 groups were assayed.The first postoperative flatus and defecation time were recorded.Results After the treatment

the first postoperative flatus and defecation time in the LEAS

FTS and FTS+LEAS groups were significantly shorter than those of the conventional group(P<0.05)

and the first flatus time of the FTS+LEAS group was even earlier than that of the FTS group(P<0.05).No significant differences were found among the 3 groups in the postoperative defecation time(P>0.05).The CRP levels in the 4 groups on 3 and 6 d after operation were higher than those on the 1 st postoperative day

and the highest level was on 3 d after the operation.Compared with the conventional group

CRP level on 3 d and CRP and IL-6 levels on 3 and 6 d in the LEAS and FTS+LEAS groups were significantly lower(P<0.05).Compared with the LEAS group

the levels of N

CRP on 3 d and the levels of N

CRP

IL-6 on 6 d in the FTS group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the FTS group

the level of CRP on 3 d and the levels of N

CRP

IL-6 on 6 d in the FTS+LEAS group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion FTS combined with LEAS is superior to simple FTS or LEAS treatment in shortening the first flatus and defecation time and promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal motility function in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy

which may be associated with its effect in alleviating postoperative inflammatory responses.