Assessment of electroacupuncture and acupuncture on the gastric motility in critically ill patients by ultrasound

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture and acupuncture on the gastric motility in critically ill patients by ultrasound. Methods Forty-five patients admitted to the ICU department of the first hospital of Jiaxing city from January 2015 to July 2016 were randomly divided into conventional group (CG, n=15), acupuncture group (AG, n=15), and electroacupuncture group (EAG, n=15), respectively.Acupuncture or EA was performed on bilateral Zusanli (ST-36), Shangjuxu (ST-37), Hegu (LI-4), and Quchi (LI-11) respectively.By using a single transverse section of gastric antrum with a Phillips ultrasound system, changes of antral contraction frequency (ACF) and antral contraction amplitude (ACA) were recorded and calculated. Results Compared to CG, ACF of AG and EAG at 1 h after water injection [CG(1.02±0.35)times/min, AG(1.33±0.44)times/min, EAG(1.83±0.40)times/min], 3 h[CG(0.95±0.51)times/min, AG(1.23±0.51)times/min, EAG(1.57±0.46)times/min]and 6 h [CG(0.88±0.39)times/min, AG(1.15±0.34)times/min, EAG(1.52±0.33)times/min]were significantly faster, the differences were statistically significant (F=15.79, 5.93, 12.33, all P<0.05). In AG, ACF at 1 h after water injection increased from (1.00±0.36)times/min to (1.33±0.44)times/min, the difference was statistically significant (t=6.30, P<0.05). In EAG, compared to the time point before water injection [(1.02±0.35) times/min], ACF at 1 h [(1.83±0.40)times/min], 3 h [(1.57±0.46)times/min]and 6 h [(1.52±0.33) times/min] after water injection increased significantly (t=36.60, 14.16, 17.22, all P<0.05). Conclusions Single transverse section of gastric antrum by ultrasound is an effective method to detect gastric motility.Acupuncture and EA can improve the gastric motility of critically ill patients, and that EA maintains a longer time. Key words: Acupuncture; Ultrasonography; Gastrointestinal motility