Effect of Electroacupuncture on Postoperative Gastrointestinal Recovery in Patients Undergoing Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Feasibility Study

Effects of balanced opioid-free anesthesia on post-operative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery: a randomized trial

OBJECTIVES

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is common after video-assisted thoracic surgery, which may be associated with the use of intraoperative opioids. We tested the hypothesis that balanced opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) might reduce the incidence of PONV after video-assisted thoracic surgery.

METHODS

One hundred and sixty-eight adults undergoing video-assisted thoracic assisted surgery were randomly assigned to receive balanced opioid-free anesthesia or balanced opioid-based anesthesia (OBA). The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV, which was assessed with the Myles's simplified PONV impact scale during the initial 24 h after surgery.

RESULTS

Compared with OBA group, the overall incidence of PONV in OFA group was significant reduced (14.6% vs. 30.1%, P = 0.017), and OFA reduced the risk of PONV events within 24 h of surgery (HR, 0.44; 95%CI: 0.22-0.87, P = 0.018). The incidence of other postoperative complications in OFA group was lower than that in OBA group (19.5% vs. 33.7%, P = 0.039). The quality of recovery, distance of 6-minute walk test, pain scores, and 36-item short form survey were comparable at each time points.

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery, the use of balanced OFA anesthesia can help reduce the incidence of PONV events. This anesthetic regimen has shown good feasibility without significantly increasing the patient's pain score and complications.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NCT05411159. First posted date: 9 Jun, 2022.

Practice Advisory for Postoperative Pain Management of Thoracic Surgical Patients: A Report from the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists

Pain after thoracic surgery is often significant, which can disrupt normal respiratory mechanics and impair the clearance of secretions, thus increasing the risk of postoperative respiratory complications. Poorly controlled acute pain can lead to persistent post-thoracotomy pain and continued opioid use that can affect quality of life. With the increased awareness of opioid-associated adverse effects and recent emphasis on enhanced recovery, opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia has been used widely for acute pain management after thoracic surgery. This practice advisory reviews, evaluates, and summarizes the recent literature related to pharmacological therapies and non-pharmacological therapies used for postoperative pain management after thoracic surgery and offers guidance to providers in making appropriate pain management decisions for their patients.

Comparative effectiveness of acupoint stimulation for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after general anesthesia: A network meta-analysis of randomized trials

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of different acupoint stimulation techniques in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after general anesthesia.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase for relevant papers, about the effect of acupoint stimulation for preventing PONV from their inception to July 31, 2023. Two reviewers performed study screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. We focused on patient important outcomes including the incidence of PONV, postoperative nausea (PON), or postoperative vomiting (POV), and the number of patients requiring antiemetic rescue. We conducted network meta-analyses to estimate the relative effectiveness between different acupoint stimulation using Stata 17.0 and Revman 5.3 software.

RESULTS

We included 50 randomized trials involving 7,372 participants (median age: 43.5 years, female: 73.3%). The network meta-analysis revealed that compared with the control (sham acupoint stimulation or blank control), antiemetic alone could significantly reduce the incidence of POV (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.69), but could not significantly reduce the incidence of PONV and PON (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.69; RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.10; respectively); both TEAS and electroacupuncture alone significantly reduced the incidence of PONV, PON, and POV, and combined with antiemetic was usually more effective than single acupoint stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Both TEAS and electroacupuncture, with or without antiemetic, could significantly reduce the incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting after general anesthesia.

CYP3A4 gene expression discloses individual differences in postoperative pain susceptibility and drug treatment response in patients with lung cancer

This study investigates the influence of CYP3A4 gene polymorphisms on postoperative pain sensitivity and analgesic response in lung cancer patients undergoing intercostal nerve block with local anesthetics. Sixty patients (ages 31-74) undergoing thoracoscopic lung cancer surgery were enrolled and divided into two groups based on CYP3A4 gene expression level: Group I (high CYP3A4) and Group II (low CYP3A4). Postoperative pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) pump usage, ECG ST-T segment changes, complications, hospital stay, and costs were recorded. Results showed significantly higher VAS scores, PCIA usage, ST-T depression, complications, longer hospital stay, and higher costs in Group I compared to Group II (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that higher CYP3A4 expression is associated with increased postoperative pain, complications, and healthcare cost. According to CYP3A4 gene expression activity, which was determined before surgery, patients with low enzyme activity metabolized local anesthetics slowly, which resulted in better analgesic effect and a longer duration of intercostal nerve block anesthesia. Owing to the impact of CYP3A4 gene expression on local anesthetic metabolism, precise intercostal nerve block anesthesia and individualized pain treatment plans could be formulated for patients undergoing radical thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer. This may accelerate postoperative recovery from lung cancer and reduce both the length of hospital stay and hospitalization costs.

Effects of perioperative electroacupuncture on postoperative gastrointestinal recovery after thoracoscopic lung surgery

OBJECTIVE

To study whether perioperative electroacupuncture (EA) can improve postoperative gastrointestinal recovery in patients receiving thoracoscopic lung surgery.

METHODS

This study was a single-center, prospective, randomized open-label trial. 180 patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic segmentectomy or lobectomy were randomized to EA group (three sessions, 24 h prior to surgery, postoperative 4 h and 24 h) or usual care group (UC group). The primary outcomes were time to first flatus and defecation. Secondary outcomes included incidence and degree of abdominal distention, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and pain scores within 72 h after surgery, postoperative morphine use, time to ambulation, and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

Time to first flatus (15.4 ± 3.2 h vs. 17.0 ± 3.7 h, P = 0.004) and time to first defecation (75.9 ± 7.9 vs. 79.7 ± 8.1 h, P = 0.002) in the EA group were significantly shorter than the UC group. The incidences of abdominal distension and PONV postoperative 24 h were significantly reduced in the EA group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in postoperative pain intensity, morphine use, time to ambulation, and length of hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Electroacupuncture is a simple intervention for accelerating postoperative gastrointestinal recovery and may be considered as an adjunct strategy in enhanced recovery protocols in thoracoscopic lung surgery.

Effectiveness of acupuncture for postoperative gastrointestinal recovery in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery: a prospective randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) is one of the most common complications among patients who have undergone thoracic surgery. Acupuncture has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat gastrointestinal diseases and has shown benefit as an alternative therapy for the management of digestive ailments. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effectiveness of acupuncture as a means to aid postoperative recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery.

METHODS

In total, 112 patients aged 18-70 years undergoing thoracoscopic surgery between 15 June 2022 and 30 August 2022 were randomized into two groups. Patients in the acupuncture group (AG) first received acupuncture treatment 4 h after surgery, and treatment was repeated at 24 and 48 h. Patients in the control group (CG) did not receive any acupuncture treatment. Both groups received the same anesthetic protocol. Ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) was performed in the paravertebral spaces between T4 and T5 with administration of 20 mL of 0.33% ropivacaine. All patients received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after surgery.

RESULTS

Median time to first flatus [interquartile range] in the AG was significantly less than in the CG (23.25 [18.13, 29.75] vs 30.75 [24.13, 45.38] h, p < 0.001). Time to first fluid intake after surgery was significantly less in the AG, as compared with the CG (4 [3, 7] vs 6.5 [4.13, 10.75] h, p = 0.003). Static pain, measured by visual analog scale (VAS) score, was significantly different on the third day after surgery (p = 0.018). Dynamic pain VAS scores were lower in the AG versus CG on the first three postoperative days (p = 0.014, 0.003 and 0.041, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Addition of acupuncture appeared to improve recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal function and alleviate posteoperative pain in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. Acupuncture may represent a feasible strategy for the prevention of PGD occurrence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2200060888 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry).

Clinical observation of gastrointestinal function recovery in patients after hepatobiliary surgery

BACKGROUND

The liver is an important metabolic and digestive organ in the human body, capable of producing bile, clotting factors, and vitamins.

AIM

To investigate the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients after hepatobiliary surgery and identify effective rehabilitation measures.

METHODS

A total of 200 patients who underwent hepatobiliary surgery in our hospital in 2022 were selected as the study subjects. They were divided into a control group and a study group based on the extent of the surgery, with 100 patients in each group. The control group received routine treatment, while the study group received targeted interventions, including early enteral nutrition support, drinking water before gas discharge, and large bowel enema, to promote postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery. The recovery of gastrointestinal function was compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, patients in the study group had better recovery of bowel sounds and less accumulation of fluids in the liver bed and gallbladder fossa (P < 0.05). They also had shorter time to gas discharge and first meal (P < 0.05), higher overall effective rate of gastrointestinal function recovery (P < 0.05), and lower incidence of postoperative complications (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Targeted nursing interventions (early nutritional support, drinking water before gas discharge, and enema) can effectively promote gastrointestinal function recovery in patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery and reduce the incidence of complications, which is worthy of promotion.

Effects of opioid-free anaesthesia on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (OFA-PONV trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication after general anaesthesia and is associated with morbidity and prolonged length of stay. Growing evidence suggest that opioid-free general anaesthesia (OFA) may reduce PONV in various surgical settings. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of OFA on the incidence of PONV compared with opioid-based anaesthesia among adults undergoing thoracoscopic surgery.

METHODS

This is a prospective, single-centre, randomised controlled trial comparing OFA and opioid-based anaesthesia for thoracoscopic surgery. A total of 168 adults will be randomised with a 1:1 ratio to receive either opioid-free anaesthesia or opioid-based anaesthesia. The primary outcome will be the incidence of PONV within 24 h after operation. The secondary outcomes will include the severity of PONV, quality of recovery, pain at rest, 6-min walking test, and health-related quality of life after operation.

DISCUSSION

The benefit-risk of OFA for patients after operation is contradictory in previous studies, so further study is required. This trial will focus on the effect of OFA on the incidence of PONV in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. This trial adopts uniformed PONV and perioperative pain management, standardised randomised and blind, clear-cut inclusion and exclusion criteria, and standardised scales to assess the severity of PONV after surgery, the quality of postoperative recovery, and the health status at 6 months. The findings of this study will help to provide references to promote early recovery of patients after lung surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05411159. Registered on 9 June 2022.

Non-invasive neuromodulation: an emerging intervention for visceral pain in gastrointestinal disorders

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, which extend from the esophagus to the anus, are the most common diseases of the GI tract. Among these disorders, pain, encompassing both abdominal and visceral pain, is a predominant feature, affecting the patients' quality of life and imposing a substantial financial burden on society. Pain signals originating from the gut intricately shape brain dynamics. In response, the brain sends appropriate descending signals to respond to pain through neuronal inhibition. However, due to the heterogeneous nature of the disease and its limited pathophysiological understanding, treatment options are minimal and often controversial. Consequently, many patients with GI disorders use complementary and alternative therapies such as neuromodulation to treat visceral pain. Neuromodulation intervenes in the central, peripheral, or autonomic nervous system by alternating or modulating nerve activity using electrical, electromagnetic, chemical, or optogenetic methodologies. Here, we review a few emerging noninvasive neuromodulation approaches with promising potential for alleviating pain associated with functional dyspepsia, gastroparesis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and non-cardiac chest pain. Moreover, we address critical aspects, including the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of these noninvasive neuromodulation methods, elucidate their mechanisms of action, and outline future research directions. In conclusion, the emerging field of noninvasive neuromodulation appears as a viable alternative therapeutic avenue for effectively managing visceral pain in GI disorders.

Effects of Press Needling combined with general anesthesia on postoperative analgesia in thoracoscopic pulmonary resection for lung cancer: A randomized, single-blind, controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of press needle therapy on postoperative analgesia and other relevant complications in patients undergoing thoracoscopic pulmonary resection.

DESIGN

randomized, single-blind, controlled trial SETTING: Teaching hospitals affiliated with universities.

INTERVENTIONS

Eighty-six patients were randomized into: the Acu group (press-needle group) and the control group MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain levels 24, 48, and three months after surgery were measured using the numeric rating scale (NRS). Perioperative hemodynamics, total and effective pressing numbers of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA), and incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications were recorded. Peripheral blood samples were collected to measure the levels of inflammatory mediators RESULTS: Acu group had significantly lower NRS scores at 24 and 48 h after operation (NRS scores on movement at 24 h after surgery: Acu vs. Control, 3 (2,3) vs. 3 (3,5), Z = -3.393, P < 0.01 and NRS scores on movement at 48 h after surgery: 2 (1,3) vs. 3 (2,5), Z = -3.641, P < 0.01), lower number of PCIA attempts and effective rates (mean total pressing numbers: 4(2,8) vs. 6(3,19), Z = -1.994, P = 0.046 and mean effective pressing numbers: 3(2,8) vs. 6(3,16), Z = -2.116, P = 0.034). The Acu group had significantly reduced IL-1 (14.52 ± 3.84 vs. 16.36 ± 3.30, mean difference (MD): - 1.85, 95% confidence interval (CI): - 3.46, - 0.23, P = 0.026), HIF-1α (10.15 ± 1.71 vs. 10.96 ± 1.73, MD: -0.81, 95% CI: -1.59, -0.04, P = 0.040) and the incidence of pulmonary complications after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Press needles are a non-invasive and feasible adjunctive intervention for postoperative analgesic management in patients undergoing thoracoscopic pulmonary resection.

Effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on gastrointestinal dysfunction after gastrointestinal surgery: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) is a common complication in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. Several studies have evaluated the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on PGD, so we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to better understand these studies methodologic limitations and summarize clinical effects.

METHODS

Articles (published from January 2010 to April 2022) were searched from the following databases: Wanfang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. Two authors conducted literature selection, data extraction and statistical analysis independently. This meta-analysis used RevMan 5.4 software to implement statistical analysis and applied Cochrane bias risk tool to assess methodologic weaknesses of included articles. We assessed the effect of TEAS on time to first flatus, first defecation and bowel sound recovery through meta-analyses using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included 10 articles including 1497 patients. This study showed that TEAS could effectively promote postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery by analyzing the time to first flatus (MD-14.81 h, 95% CI -15.88 to -13.75 h), time to first defecation (MD-14.68 h, 95% CI -20.59 to -8.76 h), time to bowel sound recovery (MD-5.79 h, 95% CI -10.87 to -0.71 h), length of hospital stay (MD-1.48d, 95% CI -1.86 to -1.11d), and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.29-0.58). In addition, we assessed the quality of the articles and found small sample sizes and lower methodological quality in some articles.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis revealed that TEAS could be a nonpharmacological treatment for PGD in patients after gastrointestinal surgery. However, positive findings should be treated carefully and future studies with high quality and large samples are needed to support this results.

Electroacupuncture Before Gastrectomy Accelerates Recovery from Gastrointestinal Dysfunction: A Feasibility Study

Objective

This study investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of preoperative electroacupuncture (EA), given within 30 minutes before surgery, on postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) in patients undergoing open gastrectomy.

Materials and Methods

Patients (N = 60) undergoing open gastrectomy were allocated randomly to a usual care (UC) group (n = 30) or an EA group (n = 30). Patients in the EA group were given bilateral EA on ST-36 (Zusanli), ST-37 (Shangjuxv), and ST-39 (Xiajuxv) within 30 minutes before the surgery. The UC group had no acupuncture treatment. Primary outcomes were feasibility of recruitment, retention, acceptability, and patients' global satisfaction. Secondary outcomes included time to first flatus, defecation, liquid diet, incidence and severity of abdominal distension (AD), and incidence of postoperative nausea (PON) and postoperative vomiting (POV). EA-related adverse events were recorded.

Results

Of the 61 recruited patients, 1 declined to participate and 60 were randomized into the 2 study groups. All participants completed the interventions. On the acceptability questionnaire, participants' acceptance of EA was statistically improved after the treatment (P < 0.001). Global satisfaction was higher in the EA group (P < 0.001) at 8 (range: 7-8) versus the UC group at 6 (range: 5-7), and the proportion of patients with at least good satisfaction (numerical scale of more than 7 of 10) reached 80% in the EA group. Compared to the UC group, the EA group had a shorter time to first flatus (EA: 57.67 ± 23.09 hours versus 71.27 ± 17.78 hours; P = 0.013). There were no significant differences in time to first defecation (P = 0.081) and liquid diet (P = 0.068), AD (P = 0.436), PON (P = 0.667), or POV (P = 1.000). EA-related adverse events were similar in the 2 groups (P = 1.000).

Conclusions

EA is feasible, acceptable to patients, and associated with higher postoperative satisfaction in patients undergoing open gastrectomy. A large multicentered trial is needed to test the effectiveness of EA on PGD.

Efficacy of electro-acupuncture in postpartum with diastasis recti abdominis: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Background

Electro-acupuncture (EA) has promising effects on diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA), defined as a separation of the two muscle bellies of rectus abdominis. To study, there is scant knowledge or scarce high-quality evidence.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of EA in treating DRA during postpartum. It was assumed that the improvement of DRA was more obvious in the EA group than in the control group.

Design

Randomized, controlled, blinded trial (Clinical Trial Registration: ChiCTR2100041891).

Setting

Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China.

Participants

Females aged 20-45 years without a past medical history of pathological rectus abdominal dissection were recruited from DRA inclusion criteria from 42 days to 1 year postpartum.

Intervention

110 participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to a control group with no EA intervention (n = 55), and EA group (n = 55). The EA group received ten sessions of EA combined with physical exercise or only physical exercise for 2 weeks with a 26-week follow-up.

Measurements

Outcomes were assessed at baseline, week 2, and week 26. The primary outcome was the change of the inter recti distance (IRD) and electromyographic evaluation of the pelvic floor. Secondary outcomes included elasticity of linea alba (LA), paraumbilical subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) measurement, body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat (F%), dyspepsia symptoms, menstrual symptoms, quality of life (QoL), pain performance of patients with lower back pain, postnatal depression symptoms (PDS), postpartum self-image, and DRA-related symptom assessment including urine leakage, frequency, and urgency, constipation, sexual dysfunction, and chronic pelvic pain.

Results

A total of 110 maternal (55 in each group) were recruited. The mean difference in IRD from baseline to week 2 and week 26 in all states of the two groups were reduced compared with those before treatment, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The mean of IRD at the horizontal line of the umbilicus in the end-expiratory state was smaller in the EA group than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) at week 2. The mean of IRD at the horizontal line of the umbilicus in head-up and flexed knee state was smaller in the EA group than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) at week 26. Five (9.1%) and thirteen (23.64%) adverse events were reported in EA and control groups, respectively. No serious adverse events were reported.

Limitation

The frequency intensity of EA parameters was selected between 4 and 6 because of individual tolerance differences.

Conclusion

EA is an effective approach to improve IRD, electromyographic evaluation of the pelvic floor, BMI, the elasticity of LA, paraumbilical SAT, and symptoms of DRA, with durable effects at 26 weeks.

Primary funding source

The Construction Fund of Medical Key Disciplines of Hangzhou (Project Number: OO20200097), Hangzhou Medical and Health Science and Technology Project No. A20200483, and Zhejiang Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Plan Project (Project Number: 2021ZQ065).

Clinical trial registration

http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx, identifier: ChiCTR2100041891.

Electroacupuncture for the Prevention of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction Among Older Adults Undergoing Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common surgical complication in elderly patients undergoing hip and knee replacement. Electroacupuncture (EA) may have a protective effect on postoperative cognitive function, but relevant evidence remains uncertain. Objective: To systematically evaluate the evidence of EA for the prevention of POCD after total joint arthroplasty. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) databases were searched until May 1, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which patients undergoing hip and knee replacement pretreated with EA for preventing POCD were included. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager version 5.4. Results: A total of 11 RCTs with 949 patients were identified. Meta-analysis showed that compared with controls, EA pretreatment significantly reduced the incidence of POCD at 1, 3, and 7 days and 3 and 6 months after the operation. EA was also superior in improving the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores on the third postoperative day, but not on the first postoperative day. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the EA group were significantly lower than that in the control group. There was no difference in S100β between the EA group and the control group. Compared to the control group, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were not significantly lower in the EA group at postoperative hour 0, while significantly decreased at postoperative hours 24 and 48. Conclusion: Our results suggest that EA pretreatment is an effective adjunctive therapy for reducing the incidence of POCD for patients receiving total joint replacement surgery. Its effect was embodied in improving the MMSE scores and NSE, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels, whereas it had no significant effect on S100β levels. Meanwhile, the benefits of EA for improving POCD need further strengthening and support from more large-scale, high-quality, and good-homogeneity RCTs. Systematic Review Registration: https://osf.io/xb3e8.

The efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture against urinary incontinence after stroke: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence (UI) is still a persistent challenge in many stroke survivors, affecting the quality of life and emotional being of these individuals. Numerous studies have demonstrated the curative effect of electroacupuncture on post-stroke incontinence, however they were mired with questionable quality and inconsistencies in safety and efficacy. Therefore, the main objective of this meta-analysis is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture against urinary incontinence after stroke, with a view of providing more reliable evidence-based solutions for UI.

METHODS

A systematic literature search will be conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and 4 Chinese databases from inception to June 2020 to identify randomized control trials that report on electroacupuncture against urinary incontinence after stroke. Two reviewers will independently identify eligible studies and extract data. The risk of bias of the included randomized control trials will be evaluated according to the Cochrane tool. Risk ratio and 95% confidence intervals will be used to estimate the efficacy of treatment,. and the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation approach to rate the certainty of evidence. The statistical heterogeneity will be evaluated by Cochran's Q and the I. Data will be analyzed using Stata software (Version 13.0, Stata Corp, College Station, TX, USA).

RESULTS

This study will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture against UI after stroke, with a view of providing more reliable evidence-based solutions for UI.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This work synthesises evidence from previously published studies and does not require ethics review or approval. A manuscript describing the findings will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER

INPLASY202050073.