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World J Gastrointest Surg. Oct 27, 2026; 18(10): 121942
Published online Oct 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.121942
Published online Oct 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.121942
Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for postoperative bowel obstruction after abdominal surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Rui-Yun Lu, Ji-Hua Gao, Dan-Dan Su, Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, Hebei Province, China
Rui-Yun Lu, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050023, Hebei Province, China
Xue-Le Liu, Department of Hematology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050023, Hebei Province, China
Mao-Sheng Tian, Ji-Hua Gao, Department of Anorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province, China
Wei Li, Department of Gastrointestinal Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050023, Hebei Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Ji-Hua Gao and Dan-Dan Su.
Author contributions: Lu RY, Liu XL, Tian MS, Li W, Gao JH and Su DD designed the study; Lu RY and Liu XL collected the data; Lu RY, Liu XL and Tian MS analyzed the data; Lu RY, Gao JH and Su DD prepared the manuscript; Gao JH and Su DD supervised the study and they contribute equally to this study as co-corresponding authors; and all authors read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: The authors declare that no artificial intelligence tools were used in the preparation, writing, editing, data analysis, or generation of any part of this manuscript.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82174381; Hebei Province 2025 Government-Funded Clinical Medicine Outstanding Talent Training Program, No. ZF2025065; and Hebei Provincial Health Commission Medical Research Project, No. 20250854.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Corresponding author: Ji-Hua Gao, Department of Anorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, No. 389 Zhongshan East Road, Shijia
Received: April 22, 2026
Revised: May 26, 2026
Accepted: September 4, 2026
Published online: October 27, 2026
Processing time: 177 Days and 22.9 Hours
Revised: May 26, 2026
Accepted: September 4, 2026
Published online: October 27, 2026
Processing time: 177 Days and 22.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that electroacupuncture can significantly accelerate postoperative bowel recovery after abdominal surgery—shortening time to first flatus and defecation, reducing hospital stay, and lowering the risk of prolonged postoperative ileus—without serious adverse events reported. However, due to study heterogeneity and limited safety data, further high-quality research is warranted.