Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42010417›Full record

SynthesisBMC surgery2026

Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation on recovery following gynecological laparoscopic surgery: a meta-analysis.

Kun Wang, Shuiying Xiang, Haiyan Zuo, Shengbing Wu

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Kun WangAnhui Province Key Laboratory of Meridian Viscera Correlationship, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China.
Shuiying XiangAnhui Province Key Laboratory of Meridian Viscera Correlationship, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China.
Haiyan ZuoAnhui Province Key Laboratory of Meridian Viscera Correlationship, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China.
Shengbing WuAnhui Province Key Laboratory of Meridian Viscera Correlationship, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China. wsb922@126.com.

Funding

Anhui University of Chinese Medicine Talent Program NO.2024bsh07Key Research Projects in Natural Sciences at Anhui Universities 2023AH040113Key Research Projects in Natural Sciences at Anhui Universities 2023AH050806Key Research Projects in Natural Sciences at Anhui Universities 2023AH050862National Natural Science Foundation of China 82004462
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTranscutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is a non-invasive therapy that combines low-frequency neurostimulation with the application of acupoints. Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of TEAS for post-operative complications following gynecological laparoscopy. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of TEAS for recovery following gynecological laparoscopic surgery.

methodsSeven electronic databases (CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane) were searched up to 24 September 2025. Continuous outcomes were pooled as mean differences (MDs) and dichotomous outcomes as risk ratios (RRs), both with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 1). Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess robustness, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger’s test where appropriate. Meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 15.0 and Review Manager 5.4 software.

resultsA total of thirty studies (n = 2,573 patients) were ultimately included in the analysis. Notably, the meta-analysis findings indicated that TEAS treatment reduced postoperative pain in gynecological laparoscopic surgery patients at 6 h [MD = -0.64, 95% CI (-1.17, -0.12)], 12 h [MD = -0.85, 95% CI (-1.35, -0.35)], 24 h [MD = -0.92, 95% CI (-1.29, -0.55)], and 48 h [MD = -0.75, 95% CI (-1.30, -0.20)] postoperatively. Additionally, TEAS significantly reduced the incidence of PONV [RR = 0.50, 95% CI (0.44, 0.57)], and shortened the time to first flatus [MD = − 7.52, 95% CI (− 10.17, − 4.87)], defecation[MD = -15.12, 95% CI (-21.97, -8.26)] and time to bowel sound recovery[MD = -4.80, 95% CI (-7.67, -1.93)]. It also markedly improved QoR-15 [MD = 2.87, 95% CI (1.15, 4.60)] and MMSE scores [MD = 1.80, 95% CI (0.40, 3.19)].

conclusionsThe meta-analysis suggests that TEAS may be associated with improved postoperative recovery after gynecological laparoscopy, particularly with respect to pain, PONV, and gastrointestinal recovery. However, it is important to note that the number and quality of included studies were limited. The certainty of evidence is limited by methodological weaknesses and substantial heterogeneity in several continuous outcomes. Therefore, the findings should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation through further high-quality research.

Indexed as

Acupuncture PointsGynecologic Surgical ProceduresLaparoscopyPostoperative PainTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationFemaleHumansGynecologicalLaparoscopyMeta-analysisSystematic reviewTranscutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation

Identifiers

PMID42010417
PMCPMC13251291

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.