Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at bilateral Zusanli(ST36)

Shangjuxu(ST37)

and Sanyinjiao(SP6) acupoints on gastrointestinal function after laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. Methods A total of 150 patients(American Society of Anesthesiologists[ASA] grades Ⅰ and Ⅱ) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine were randomly assigned into three groups: electroacupuncture group(n=50)

simple acupuncture group(n=50)

and control group(n=50). Patients in the control group received routine treatment; on the basis of routine treatment

patients in the simple acupuncture group were acupunctured at bilateral ST36

ST37 and SP36;patients in the electroacupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture at bilateral ST36

ST37 and SP36(50 Hz

5 mA). In both simple acupuncture group and electroacupuncture group

the corresponding treatments were conducted 1 h after surgery

Patients as well as in the morning(8:00-10:00) and afternoon(14:00-16:00) on the first day after surgery

30 min each time. The time of bowel sound recovery

the time to the first postope-rative exhaust and defecation

the time of postoperative fluid diet recovery

abdominal pain score

and gastrointestinal reaction score were recorded and analyzed. Results Compared with the control group

the electroacupuncture group and the simple acupuncture group showed shortened time of bowel sound recovery

shortened time to the first postoperative exhaust and defecation

and shortened time of postoperative liquid diet recovery(P<0.01)

as well as decreased postoperative abdominal pain score and gastrointestinal reaction score(P<0.01). Furthermore

the time of bowel sound recovery

the time to the first postoperative exhaust and defecation

and the time of postoperative liquid diet recovery were shortened in the electroacupuncture group compared with those in the simple acupuncture group(P<0.01). The total effective rate of electroacupuncture group was 94.0%(47/50)

the total effective rate of simple acupuncture group was 88.0%(44/50)

significantly higher than 78.0%(39/50) in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion Both electroacupuncture and simple acupuncture can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia

and electroacupuncture is superior to simple acupuncture

but they have no significant difference in alleviating postoperative abdominal pain and gastrointestinal reactions.