OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy differences between electroacupuncture (EA) and regular treatment for severe acute pancreatitis accompanied with paralytic ileus.

METHODSThis was a prospective pragmatic randomized controlled trial. A total of 140 cases of severe acute pancreatitis accompanied with paralytic ileus were randomly assigned into an EA group and a regular treatment group, 70 cases in each one. The patients in the regular treatment group were treated with regular treatment, including intensive care, gastrointestinal decompression, fasting, blood capacity supplement, acid suppression treatment, internal environment maintenance, infection prevention, inhibition of pancreatic exocrine secretion, etc. Based on the regular treatment, patients in the EA group were treated with EA at Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhigou (TE 6), 30 min for each treatment, once a day for totally 5 days. The VAS-based abdominal distension severity scale and abdominal pain severity scale were compared before and during treatment in the two groups, moreover, the number of patients who transferred to surgery or ICU was compared.

RESULTS(1) After the 1st EA, the abdominal pain and distension severity scales were both improved in the EA group, which were superior to those of the regular treatment group (all<0.05); afterwards, the abdominal distension and pain severity scales of each day in the EA group were all significantly superior to those of the regular treatment group (all<0.05). (2) The number of patients who transferred to surgery or ICU was not significantly different between the two groups (>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA at Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhigou (TE 6) can significantly reduce the abdominal distension and pain severity scales in patients of severe acute pancreatitis accompanied with paralytic ileus, indicating positive clinical significance; in addition, EA is safe and can be recommended to the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis in combination with treatment plan of integrated Chinese and western medicine.