Objective To compare the therapeutic effect and safety in treatment of functional constipation between electroacupuncture(EA) and gastro-kinetic drugs. Methods Using "functional constipation"

"prucalopride"

"mosapridecitrate"

"electro-acupuncture" and "randomized controlled trial"

both in Chinese and English

as search terms

the articles of randomized controlled trial(RCT) regarding to the comparison of therapeutic effect on functional constipation in the patients between EA and gastro-kinetic drugs were retrieved from CMB

Wanfang

VIP

CNKI

OpenGrey

CINAHL

Cochrane Library

JBI

PubMed

WOS and Ovid databases. The retrieval time was from the establishment date to June 2018. The two researchers screened articles

extracted data and assessed literature quality in reference to Cochrane Handbook. Using RevMan 5.3 software

the meta-analysis was conducted. Results A total of 11 articles were included finally

with 744 patients involved. It was found after meta-analysis that in EA group

the weekly spontaneous defecation frequency

constipation related quality of life in patients

depression relief and incidence of adverse reaction were all better than those in gastro-kinetic medication group. The therapeutic effect of the improvements in stool character and defecation difficulty in EA group were better or similar to that in gastro-kinetic medication group. Conclusion Regarding the therapeutic effect and safety in treatment of functional constipation

the results of electroacupuncture are superior or similar to gastro-kinetic medication

presenting a satisfactory therapeutic prospect.