Effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for the treatment of pain after laparoscopic surgery: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for treating pain after laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: The following databases were searched (since their establishment until November 16, 2021) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on electroacupuncture for pain after laparoscopic surgery: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Data were screened independently and extracted by two reviewers. Two researchers independently extracted and cross-checked data and applied the modified Jadad scale and the Cochrane-recommended assessment method to evaluate the bias risk. The Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan5.3 software. RESULTS: Twelve RCTs enrolling 788 patients were included. (a) For postoperative 24 h visual analogue scale, five trials were included on electroacupuncture + routine analgesia therapy vs routine analgesia therapy with significance in electroacupuncture conducted after surgery [mean difference (MD) = -0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-0.90, -0.37)], as well as in electroacupuncture conducted before and after surgery [MD = −1.01, 95% CI (−1.62, −0.41)] and in surgery. However, two trials were included in electroacupuncture conducted 24 h before surgery with no significant difference [MD = −0.16, 95% CI (−0.44, 0.12)]. (b) The anesthetics intake of electroacupuncture + routine analgesia therapy vs. routine analgesia therapy was significant [MD = −121.71, 95% CI (−164.92, −78.49)]. (c) The adverse effects of electroacupuncture + routine analgesia therapy vs. routine analgesia therapy were significant both in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting [risk rate (RR) = 0.49, 95% CI (0.39, 0.61)] and postoperative dizziness and headache [RR = 0.14, 95% CI (0.04, 0.47)]. CONCLUSION: The evidence showed that electroacupuncture combined with routine analgesia therapy effectively treated pain after laparoscopic surgery. However, more rigorously designed RCTs are required due to the low quality of the included studies and the incomplete outcome evaluation system.