To evaluate the regulating effect of needle-embedding therapy on the gastrointestinal function after splenectomy and devascularization for portal hypertension.

92 patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension undergoing splenectomy and devascularization in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from October 2018 to December 2020 were enrolled. Among them,53 patients were male and 39 female, aged from 29 to 70 years, with a median age of 52 years. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received. According to the random number table method, the patients were randomly divided into the needle-embedding therapy group (n=46) and control group (n=46). Routine treatment was given in the control group, and routine treatment combined with needle-embedding therapy were delivered in the needle-embedding therapy group. The time to first flatus, defecation and eating after surgery was compared between two groups by t test. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of postoperative nausea and abdominal distension were compared by rank sum test. The incidence of hypokalemia was compared by Chi-square test.

In the needle-embedding group, the average time to first flatus, defecation and eating after surgery was (52±15), (92±20) and (48±12) h, significantly shorter than (62±11), (103±21) and (59±12) h in the control group (t=-3.556, -2.640, -4.328; P<0.05). In the needle-embedding group, the median VAS scores of nausea and abdominal distension at postoperative 2 d were 0(0) and 0(0), significantly lower than 0(1) and 0(2) in the control group (Z=-2.401, -2.571; P<0.05). In the needle-embedding group, the incidence of hypokalemia at postoperative 4 d was 13%(6/46), significantly lower than 35%(16/46) in the control group (χ²=2.431, P<0.05).

Needle-embedding therapy can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after splenectomy and devascularization and reduce the incidence of postoperative hypokalemia in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.