OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point sticking on prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal complications after gynecological laparoscopic operation of general anesthesia, and to explore whether it is achieved by regulating the secretion of plasma motilin (MTL).

METHODSSixty patients who received selective gynecological laparoscopy under general anesthesia were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 30 patients in each one. The patients in the observation group were treated with auricular point sticking at each morning and night, 30 min before anesthesia, revival after surgery and 24 h after surgery. The adhesive fabric with vaccaria seeds was pressed at shenmen (TF), wei (CO), benmen (CO), jiaogan (AH) and pizhixia (AT) for 3 to 5 min until the sensation of sourness, distension and numb appeared. The treatment was given for one week. The patients in the control group were treated only with similar adhesive fabric at auricular points at identical time points; each auricular point was pressed for 3 to 5 min. The anus exhaust time, defecating time and borborygmus were recorded; the level of plasma MTL was tested 30 min before anesthesia, 24 h after o-peration and 48 h after operation; the occurrence of nausea and vomiting from the end of operation to the end of treatment were also recorded.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the occurrence of nausea after operation was reduced in the observation group (<0.05), and the anus exhaust time and defecating time were shortened (both<0.05), and the recovery of borborygmus was improved (<0.05). The levels of MTL 24 h and 48 h after surgery were higher than those before operation in the two groups (all<0.05); The levels of MTL 24 h and 48 h after surgery in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (both<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe assist of auricular point sticking could reduce the occurrence of nausea-vomiting and accelerate the recovery of gastrointestinal function in gynecological laparoscopic operation under general anesthesia, which is likely to be related with the inhibition on excess secretion of MTL.