Effect of auricular points treatment combined with acupoints application in patients with constipation after lung cancer surgery.

ABSTRACT

OBJECT To assess the effect of auricular points treatment combined with acupoints application on patient with constipation after lung cancer surgery. METHODS: Design and participants: This is a single-center randomized controlled trial. Totally 341 after lung cancer surgery patients were randomly assigned into the experimental group (n = 174) and the control group (n = 167). The control group received routine nursing care, which was included psychological support, diet instruction, and post-operative activities guidance. The experimental group received auricular points treatment combined with acupoints application therapy in addition to the routine nursing care. All the patients had defecation within 3 days after operation. The characteristics of the stool were recorded, and the progress and performance of the incidence of constipation was recorded in two groups. RESULTS: The incidence of constipation in the control group was higher than that in the experimental group (P < 0.001). Moreover, the stool characteristics of experimental group were better than it in the control group by rank-sum test (P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: On the basis of routine measures to prevent constipation after lung cancer surgery, auricular point sticking combined with acupoint application therapy can effectively decrease the incidence of postoperative constipation.