Objective To observe the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS) on the recovery of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery under general anesthesia. Methods Sixty patients(ASA Ⅱ-Ⅲ) selected for scheduled gastrointestinal surgery were randomly divided into control group and TEAS group(n=30 cases per group). Patients in the two groups received general anesthesia

and those of the TEAS group also received TEAS for 30 min(8-12 mA) immediately after surgery. The changes of systolic blood pressure(SBP)

diastolic blood pressure(DBP)

heart rate(HR) before anesthesia

before acupoint stimulation

before extubation

immediately after extubation

10 and 30 min after extubation were recorded. The recovery time of spontaneous breathing

extubation time

VAS scores and Bruggman comfort scale(BCS) scores at the time of discharging from postanesthesia care unit(PACU) were recorded. Results Compared with the control group

the recovery time of spontaneous breathing and extubation time were significantly shorter(P<0.05)

the VAS score was significantly lower(P<0.05)

and the BCS score significantly increased in the TEAS group(P<0.05). There were no significant differences between two groups in the levels of SBP

DBP and HR at each time point(P>0.05). Conclusion TEAS can accelerate the gastrointestinal surgery patients' recovery from general anesthesia

enhance the postoperative analgesic effect

improve patients' discomfort

has less adverse reactions

and is thus conducive to promote the postoperative rehabilitation.