Objective To compare the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of single-acupoint Zusanli(ST36) and multi-acupoints Zusanli(ST36)

Shangjuxu(ST37) and Neiguan(PC6) in promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal movement in laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC) patients undergoing general anesthesia. Methods A total of 70 LC patients(American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] grade I and II) were recruited and randomly divided into control(n=23)

single ST36(n=23) and ST36+ST37+PC6(n=24) groups. The patients in the control group only received routine basic treatments(postoperative fasting and water deprivation

intravenous drip of biotics

water-electrolyte and acid-base balancing

oxygen uptake

etc). EA(10 Hz

5 mA

30 min every time) was applied to the abovementioned single-acupoint or multi-acupoints groups before

and 4

22

34 and 46 h after the operation. The time-points of postoperative borborygmus recovery

first anal exhaust and defecation

post-operative abdominal distension(mild

moderate and severe)

nausea and vomiting(grade Ⅰ

Ⅱ

Ⅲ and Ⅳ) at 6

24 and 48 h after surgery were recorded and analyzed. Results Compared to the control group

the time of borborygmus recovery

first anal exhaust and defecation were markedly earlier in both single ST36 and ST36+ST37+PC6 groups(P<0.01

P<0.05

P<0.001). The number of patients who had mild plus moderate abdominal distention

and nausea(grade Ⅱ+Ⅲ) at 24 h after ope-ration was significantly lower in both single ST36 and ST36+ST37+PC6 groups than in the control group(P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two EA groups in the time of borborygmus recovery

first anal exhaust and defecation

and in the number of patients with mild plus moderate abdominal distention and those with nausea(P>0.05). Conclusion EA of both single ST36 and ST36+ST37+PC6 can promote gastrointestinal function recovery in LC patients

without remarkable difference between them.