Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of Zusanli(ST36) and Zhongwan(CV12) on intestinal nutritional feeding intolerance in patients with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP). Methods A total of 68 SAP patients(hospitalized from January of 2018 to December of 2019 in Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Medicine) were randomly divided into control and EA groups(n=34 cases in each group). All patients of the two groups received the same early enteral nutrition treatment through nasojejunal tube. EA(5—15 Hz

1—5 mA) was applied to bilateral ST36 and CV12 for 20 min

twice a day for 7 days. The incidence of feeding intolerance(abdominal distension

vomiting

diarrhea

constipation

gastrointestinal bleeding)

time to reach energy target

intraperitoneal pressure and the number of borborygmus in 1 min were recorded. The contents of plasma high sensitivity-C reactive protein(hs-CRP)

IL-6 and endotoxin were measured using Latex immunoturbidimetric method

chemiluminescence and Tachypiens Amebocyte Lysate Azo substrate color development method

respectively

and the contents of urinary lactulose and mannitol detected using high-performance liquid chromatography. The total protein and albumin levels in the blood were measured for assessing the patients' nutrition status

and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation scoring system(APACHE-Ⅱ) score was determined for assessing the severity of disease. Results Compared with the control group

the incidence of abdominal distension

vomiting and constipation

intolerance rate to feeding

time to reach the energy target

intraperitoneal pressure on day 7

inflammatory indexes

hs-CRP

IL-6

endotoxin

urine L/M on day 4 and 7

and the APACHE Ⅱ score on day 7 were significantly lower(P<0.01)

and the number of borborygmus in 1 min on day 4 and 7 after the treatment was significantly higher in the EA group(P<0.01). In comparison with pretreatment

the abdominal pressure and plasma endotoxin level on day 4 and 7

hs-CRP

IL-6 and L/M ratio on day 1

4 and 7

as well as APACHE Ⅱ score on day 7 after the treatment were significantly decreased in the two groups(P<0.01)

and the number of borborygmus on day 4 and 7

and the total protein and albumin on day 7 significantly increased in both the control and EA groups(P<0.01). Conclusion EA of ST36 and CV12 can shorten the time to reach the energy target

reduce inflammatory response

improve the intestinal mucosal barrier function

and thus reduce the incidence of feeding intolerance in SAP patients.