E-stim can significantly improve recovery outcomes for patients after stroke surgery

E-stim can significantly improve recovery outcomes for patients after stroke surgery

Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) can significantly improve recovery outcomes for patients after cerebrovascular surgery, enhancing nutrition, immune function, and gastrointestinal motility while shortening intensive care unit (ICU) stays and reducing complications. A trial carried out in China involved 300 ICU patients recovering from cerebrovascular accident surgery who were randomly assigned to either a TEAS or control group. The TEAS group received electrical stimulation at five acupoints (Zusanli ST-36, Shangjuxu ST-37, Tianshu ST2-5, Neiguan P-6, Hegu L.I.-4) alongside standard care, while the control group received sham TEAS. The results showed that TEAS led to significant improvements in various clinical outcomes. Specifically, the TEAS group showed enhanced nutritional status, with increased levels of prealbumin, albumin, haemoglobin and total protein. Immune function was also notably improved, with higher levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, and a better CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio. Additionally, gastrointestinal motility was positively affected, as the TEAS group experienced faster progress in reaching feeding goals, quicker bowel movement initiation, and a shorter time to reach full defecation volume. The TEAS group also demonstrated significantly better overall clinical outcomes, reflected in improved scores on clinical scales and a shorter ICU stay. The TEAS group also had a lower incidence of adverse events compared to the control group. The authors conclude that early TEAS intervention can significantly improve recovery outcomes for patients following cerebrovascular surgery. (A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Impact of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Gastrointestinal Motility, Nutritional Status, and Immune Function in Patients Following Cerebrovascular Accident Surgery. J Invest Surg. 2024 Dec;37(1):2434093).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39647839/