Objective

2

To investigate the mechanism and therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with Tongyou Decoction in promoting postoperative recovery with esophageal cancer.

Objective

2

Using prospective research methods

a total of 80 patients admitted to the Taihe County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine for esophageal cancer surgery from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected and divided into observation group and control group by random number table method.Both groups were operated.The control group was given conventional symptomatic support treatment after operation and anti-infection treatment at the same time

and the observation group was treated with the same method as the control group after operation and plus acupuncture in combination with Tongyou Decoction. Both groups were treated for 7 days continuously.The first anal exhaust time， the pain resolution time， the chest tube removal time， the first feeding time，drainage tube pull-out time and hospitalization time;scores of TCM syndromes before and 8 days after operation

and the levels of serum inflammatory factors （IL-6， TNF-α， CRP)， oxidative stress indexes (SOD

MDA and GSH-Px)and immune index (Th17

Treg cell ratio

Th17/Treg) were compared before and after treatment.

Results

2

The observation group showed less time of first anal exhaust， disappearance of pain， removal of thoracic drainage tube， and time of first oral intake of liguid diet and hospitalization compared to the control group （

P

<

0.05）. There was no significant difference in the time of pulling out the drainage tube between the two groups (

P

>

0.05).On the 8th day after operation

the scores of TCM syndrome in both groups were reduced compared with that before the treatment （

P

<

0.05）

and the improvement of loss of appetite and chest pain in the observation group was better than that in the control group （

P

<

0.05）.The proportion of serum IL-6

TNF-α

CRP

MDA and Treg cells in the two groups decreased compared with the first day after operation (P

<

0.05)

while the proportion of SOD

GSH-Px

Th17 cells and Th17/Treg in the two groups increased compared with the first day after operation (

P

<

0.05)

and the changes of the above indexes in the observation group were more obvious than those in the control group (

P

<

0.05).

Conclusion

2

Acupuncture combined with modified Tongyou Decoction can promote rapid postoperative recovery in patients with esophageal cancer through its multiple effects of alleviating inflammation， oxidative stress， and regulating immune balance.