Impact of laser acupuncture on gastrointestinal function recovery in patients after acute appendicitis surgery: A retrospective clinical study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients, mean ± SD

Characteristic	Routine treatment group (n = 60)	Laser acupuncture group (n = 60)	P value
Age (years)	38.5 ± 12.3	37.8 ± 11.6	0.672
Gender (male/female)	31/29	29/31	0.843
Body mass index (kg/m²)	23.6 ± 3.2	23.9 ± 3.5	0.756
Appendicitis severity (mild/moderate/severe)	20/30/10	22/28/10	0.789
History of abdominal surgery (Yes/No)	5/55	4/56	0.781
History of chronic illness (Yes/No)	15/45	14/46	0.852
Smoking status (Yes/No)	18/42	16/44	0.745
Alcohol consumption (Yes/No)	12/48	10/50	0.712
Physical activity level (low/moderate/high)	15/30/15	14/32/14	0.897
Education level (Below college/undergraduate/postgraduate)	20/30/10	22/28/10	0.764
History of allergies (Yes/No)	10/50	8/52	0.678
History of mental health issues (Yes/No)	5/55	4/56	0.781
Family history of gastrointestinal Disorders (Yes/No)	8/52	7/53	0.823

Table 2 Precise and controllable surgical indicators, mean ± SD

Indicator	Routine treatment group (n = 60)	Laser acupuncture group (n = 60)	P value
Average operation time (minutes)	56.3 ± 12.5	54.7 ± 11.8	0.421
Intraoperative blood loss (mL)	35.6 ± 15.2	32.4 ± 14.7	0.238
Surgical success rate (%)	100	100	-
Postoperative hospital stay (days)	4.2 ± 1.3	3.8 ± 1.2	0.123
Postoperative fever (≥ 38.0 °C) (Yes/No)	10/50	7/53	0.345
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (Yes/No)	12/48	8/52	0.210
Postoperative pain medication use (Yes/No)	25/35	18/42	0.047
Postoperative urinary retention (Yes/No)	5/55	3/57	0.456
Postoperative wound infection (Yes/No)	4/56	2/58	0.312

Table 3 Gastrointestinal function recovery, mean ± SD

Indicator	Routine treatment group (n = 60)	Laser acupuncture group (n = 60)	P value
Time to first exhaust (hours)	18.7 ± 3.1	12.5 ± 2.3	< 0.001
Time to first bowel movement (hours)	48.2 ± 5.7	36.4 ± 4.6	< 0.001
Intestinal motility recovery index	3.2 ± 0.8	4.5 ± 0.7	< 0.001
Postoperative nausea duration (hours)	24.1 ± 6.3	16.8 ± 5.2	< 0.001
Postoperative vomiting frequency (times)	1.8 ± 0.9	0.9 ± 0.6	< 0.001
Time to tolerate solid food (hours)	72.5 ± 10.4	54.3 ± 8.9	< 0.001
Postoperative abdominal distension duration (hours)	36.2 ± 7.8	24.5 ± 6.1	< 0.001
Postoperative gastrointestinal symptom score	4.7 ± 1.2	3.1 ± 0.9	< 0.001
Time to postoperative bowel sound recovery (hours)	20.4 ± 4.5	14.2 ± 3.6	< 0.001

Table 4 Significant reduction in complication risks, n (%)

Complication	Routine treatment group (n = 60)	Laser acupuncture group (n = 60)	P value
Total complications	12 (20.0)	5 (8.3)	0.017
Incision infection	4 (6.7)	1 (1.7)	0.045
Abdominal fluid collection	3 (5.0)	1 (1.7)	0.067
Local intestinal adhesions	2 (3.3)	1 (1.7)	0.234
Postoperative fever (≥ 38.0 °C)	10 (16.7)	7 (11.7)	0.345
Postoperative nausea and vomiting	12 (20.0)	8 (13.3)	0.210
Postoperative pain medication use	25 (41.7)	18 (30.0)	0.047
Postoperative urinary retention	5 (8.3)	3 (5.0)	0.456
Postoperative wound infection	4 (6.7)	2 (3.3)	0.312
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma	3 (5.0)	1 (1.7)	0.123
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis	2 (3.3)	1 (1.7)	0.456

Table 5 Pain management, mean ± SD

Indicator	Routine treatment group (n = 60)	Laser acupuncture group (n = 60)	P value
Visual analog scale pain score	4.7 ± 1.5	3.2 ± 1.1	< 0.001
Numeric rating scale pain score	4.5 ± 1.4	2.8 ± 1.0	< 0.001
Verbal rating scale pain score	4.3 ± 1.3	2.7 ± 0.9	< 0.001
Brief pain inventory pain score	4.8 ± 1.6	3.3 ± 1.2	< 0.001
McGill pain questionnaire pain score	5.0 ± 1.7	3.5 ± 1.3	< 0.001
Short-form McGill pain questionnaire pain score	4.9 ± 1.6	3.4 ± 1.2	< 0.001
Postoperative pain medication use (Yes/No)	25/35	18/42	0.047
Postoperative pain medication dosage (mg)	120.4 ± 35.2	85.7 ± 28.1	< 0.001
Postoperative pain duration (hours)	36.2 ± 10.4	24.5 ± 8.1	< 0.001
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (Yes/No)	12/48	8/52	0.210
Postoperative nausea and vomiting duration (hours)	18.3 ± 6.2	12.1 ± 5.3	< 0.001

Table 6 Comprehensive improvement in quality of life, mean ± SD

Indicator	Routine treatment group (n = 60)	Laser acupuncture group (n = 60)	P value
Quality of life score (QoR-15) at 1 week	62.3 ± 8.5	72.6 ± 7.9	< 0.01
Quality of life score (QoR-15) at 2 weeks	75.4 ± 9.2	85.3 ± 8.6	< 0.01
Quality of life score (QoR-15) at 4 weeks	83.6 ± 10.1	91.2 ± 9.5	< 0.01
Physical functioning (Short-form-36)	68.2 ± 10.4	76.5 ± 9.8	< 0.01
Mental health (Short-form-36)	65.4 ± 11.3	74.8 ± 10.7	< 0.01
Social functioning (Short-form-36)	67.1 ± 12.1	77.3 ± 11.4	< 0.01
Role emotional (Short-form-36)	69.5 ± 13.2	79.2 ± 12.5	< 0.01
Pain interference (Short-form-36)	70.3 ± 14.1	80.1 ± 13.4	< 0.01
General health perceptions (Short-form-36)	66.8 ± 11.7	76.2 ± 11.1	< 0.01
Vitality (Short-form-36)	64.7 ± 12.6	74.5 ± 12.0	< 0.01

Table 7 Multivariate analysis

Factor	Adjusted risk ratio	95%CI	P value
Laser acupuncture	0.421	0.312-0.567	< 0.001
Meridian stimulation	0.583	0.434-0.782	0.001
Local microcirculation improvement	0.647	0.498-0.832	0.002
Inflammatory response modulation	0.712	0.565-0.898	0.004
Immune function optimization	0.789	0.637-0.981	0.034
Psychological adjustment (catastrophizing)	0.820	0.675-0.995	0.043
Physical functioning (pain intensity)	0.850	0.702-1.032	0.098
Social functioning (activity engagement)	0.880	0.734-1.056	0.172
Mental health (depression)	0.890	0.743-1.067	0.210