Effects of electroacupuncture combined with flurbiprofen axetil on postoperative pain and early functional recovery after breast cancer surgery

Table 1 Patients demographic characteristics in two groups, median (interquartile range)/n (%)

Demographic characteristics	Control group (n = 65)	EA group (n = 65)
Year	52 (43.5-61)	52 (43.5-61.5)
Height (cm)	156 (151.5-160)	155 (152-159)
Weight (kg)	55 (50-60.25)	57 (51.25-67.75)
Combined disease	29 (44.60)	36 (55.40)
Breast cancer location
Right	29 (44.60)	33 (50.80)
Left	36 (55.40)	32 (49.20)
Basic information of operation
Incoming (mL)	1000 (1000-1000)	1000 (1000-1000)
Output (mL)	120 (30-230)	110 (20-250)
Anesthesia time (minutes)	240 (190-285)	240 (189.5-277.5)
Operation procedure
Partial resection + sentinel lymph node biopsy	7 (5.38)	8 (6.16)
Partial resection + axillary dissection	9 (6.92)	8 (6.16)
Total mastectomy + sentinel lymph node biopsy	36 (27.69)	30 (23.08)
Total mastectomy + axillary dissection	18 (13.85)	14 (10.76)

EA: Electroacupuncture.

Table 2 Occurrence of postoperative pain in two groups

Time after surgery	n (moderate/severe pain) (%)		VAS score (mean ± SD)
	Control group	EA group	Control group	EA group
24 hours after surgery
Pain during exercise	41/1 (64.6)	30/2 (49.2)a	3.954 ± 0.233	2.862 ± 0.233b
Pain at rest	11/1 (18.5)	7/1 (12.3)	2.692 ± 0.174	1.789 ± 0.174b
48 hours after surgery
Pain during exercise	29/0 (44.6)	24/1 (38.5)	2.108 ± 0.18	1.785 ± 0.18
Pain at rest	6/0 (9.2)	5/0 (7.7)	1.169 ± 0.119	0.631 ± 0.119
72 hours after surgery
Pain during exercise	19/0 (29.2)	16/0 (24.6)	1.215 ± 0.12	1.115 ± 0.12
Pain at rest	2/0 (3.1)	3/0 (4.6)	0.631 ± 0.08	0.415 ± 0.086

^aP < 0.05 vs control group.

^bP < 0.01 vs control group.

EA: Electroacupuncture.

Table 3 Basic living ability scores 24 hours post-surgery in two groups, median (interquartile range)

BADL item	Control group (n = 65)	EA group (n = 65)
Eating	10 (10-10)	10 (10-10)
Bathing	0 (0-2.5)	0 (0-5)
Grooming	0 (0-5)	5 (5-5)b
Dressing	5 (5-10)	10 (5-10)b
Controlling defecation	10 (5-10)	10 (10-10)
Controlling urination	10 (5-10)	10 (10-10)
Toileting	10 (5-10)	10 (10-10)a
Transferring	15 (10-15)	15 (10-15)a
Walking	15 (15-15)	15 (15-15)
Climbing up and down the stairs	5 (0-5)	5 (0-10)
Total score	80 (65-87.5)	85 (75-90)b

^aP < 0.05 vs control group.

^bP < 0.01 vs control group.

BADL: Basic activities of daily living; EA: Electroacupuncture.

Table 4 Postoperative complications in two groups, n (%)

Complication	Control group	EA group
Dizziness	5 (7.8)	4 (6.2)
Appetite loss	36 (55.4)	27 (41.5)a
Postoperative nausea and vomiting	22 (33.8)	13 (20.0)a
Diarrhoea	4 (6.2)	4 (6.2)
Constipation	4 (6.2)	4 (6.2)

^aP < 0.05 vs control group.

EA: Electroacupuncture.