Yiqi Daozhi formula combined with acupoint application for gastrointestinal function recovery after gastric cancer surgery

doi:10.4251/wjgo.122363

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Publication Name

World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology

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1948-5204

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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA

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Retrospective Cohort Study

Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.

World J Gastrointest Oncol. Dec 15, 2026; 18(12): 122363
Published online Dec 15, 2026. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.122363

Yiqi Daozhi formula combined with acupoint application for gastrointestinal function recovery after gastric cancer surgery

Yu-Ying Wei, Hao Wu, Zhao-Ying Li, Jun-Ke Wang, Jiao Li, Tian-Tian Li, Ran Zhang, Xiao Liu

Yu-Ying Wei, Department of Rehabilitation, Changqing District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250300, Shandong Province, China

Hao Wu, Jiao Li, Tian-Tian Li, Ran Zhang, Department of Intensive Care Unit, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250100, Shandong Province, China

Zhao-Ying Li, Xiao Liu, Department of Acupuncture and Massage Clinic, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250100, Shandong Province, China

Jun-Ke Wang, Department of General Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250100, Shandong Province, China

Author contributions: Wei YY, Wu H, Li ZY, Wang JK, Li J, Li TT, Zhang R, and Liu X contributed to research design and data analysis; Wei YY, Wu H, Li ZY, Wang JK, Li J, Li TT, and Zhang R contributed to data collection and paper writing, Liu X was responsible for funding application, reviewing and editing, communication coordination, ethical review, copyright and licensing, and follow-up.

AI contribution statement: AI tools were used solely for linguistic refinement and formatting assistance. No AI tool was involved in the generation of research data, interpretation of results, or formulation of conclusions. All AI-generated outputs were critically reviewed and revised by the authors.

Supported by General Program of Shandong Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Project, No. M-2023134.

Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shandong Provincial Public Health Clinical Center, approval No. GWLCZXEC-SOP-K-2026-67.

Informed consent statement: All research participants or their legal guardians provided written informed consent prior to study registration.

Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.

STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.

Data sharing statement: No other data available.

Corresponding author: Xiao Liu, Consultant, Department of Acupuncture and Massage Clinic, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 2999 Tourism Road, Licheng District, Jinan 250100, Shandong Province, China. shuiwuyunjian@163.com

Received: June 5, 2026
Revised: June 30, 2026
Accepted: July 28, 2026
Published online: December 15, 2026
Processing time: 156 Days and 23.6 Hours

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction is a common complication after radical gastrectomy, which delays rehabilitation and increases the risk of complications. Conventional Western medicine treatment has limited efficacy, and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy has potential advantages in regulating gastrointestinal function.

AIM

To investigate the clinical efficacy, underlying mechanisms, and safety of oral administration of Yiqi Daozhi formula combined with acupoint application in promoting gastrointestinal function recovery in patients after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study design was adopted. A total of 120 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of our hospital from October 2022 to October 2025 were enrolled. Based on their perioperative treatment regimens, they were divided into a conventional treatment group and a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) external treatment group, with 60 patients in each group. The conventional treatment group received routine Western medicine treatment after surgery, while the TCM external treatment group received oral Yiqi Daozhi formula combined with acupoint application in addition to conventional treatment. The treatment course was 7 days postoperatively for both groups. The main outcomes compared between the two groups included gastrointestinal function recovery indicators, TCM syndrome scores, serum gastrointestinal hormone and inflammatory factor levels, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, medical costs, quality of life scores, and adverse reactions during treatment.

RESULTS

The recovery times of postoperative bowel sounds, anal exhaust, defecation, and liquid diet in the TCM external treatment group were significantly shorter than those in the conventional treatment group (P < 0.05). On postoperative day 7, the TCM syndrome scores, serum levels of inhibitory gastrointestinal hormones (somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal peptide) and pro-inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein) in the TCM external treatment group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group, while the levels of prokinetic gastrointestinal hormones motilin and gastrin were significantly higher, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). In addition, the TCM external treatment group had a significantly lower total incidence of postoperative complications, shorter hospital stay, lower total medical costs, and better European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Stomach 22 quality of life scores (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05), and no serious adverse events occurred in either group.

CONCLUSION

Yiqi Daozhi formula combined with acupoint application can effectively promote postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery and improve quality of life in gastric cancer patients, with reliable safety.

Keywords: Post-gastric cancer surgery; Gastrointestinal dysfunction; Yiqi Daozhi formula; Acupoint application; Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine therapy

Core Tip: This retrospective cohort study confirms that the “Yi Qi Dao Zhi” formula, combined with acupoint plaster application, can accelerate the recovery of gastrointestinal function following gastric cancer surgery by regulating gastrointestinal hormones and suppressing the inflammatory response, whilst demonstrating a good safety profile. This regimen offers a practical and feasible integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine approach to perioperative rehabilitation for gastric cancer.