The effect of foot acupuncture hot medicated compress on immune function and gastrointestinal function in patients with colorectal cancer after general anesthesia

Objective General anesthesia may cause poor immune function and gastrointestinal dysfunction after the operation. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of foot acupoint hot medicated compress on postoperative immune function and gastrointestinal function among colorectal cancer patients after general anesthesia. Methods From January 2016 to June 2017, 74 patients with colorectal cancer who underwent surgical therapy under general anesthesia in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, were included in this study. The patients were randomly divided into study group and control group, 37 cases in each group. In the control group, routine perioperative nursing measures were adopted. In the study group, on the basis of the nursing of the control group, the foot Chongyang point and Yongquan point were given hot medicated compress nursing with moxa and salt bag. The levels of serum immunoglobulins(IgG, IgA, IgM) and T lymphocyte subsets(CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺) were measured by flow cytometry before and 7 days after operation, and the time of first anal exhaust, first defecation, gastric tube retention and bowel sound recovery were recorded. Results The serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM of the study group 7 days after the operation were significantly higher than those in the control group and before the operation(all P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ of the study group 7 days after the operation were significantly higher than those in the control group and before operation(all P<0.05), and the levels of CD8⁺ were significantly lower than control group and before treatment(P<0.05). The time of first anal exhaust, first defecation, gastric tube indwelling and recovery of bowel sounds in the study group were significantly shorter than those in the control group(all P<0.05). Conclusion Foot acupuncture hot medicated compress can improve the immune function of colorectal cancer patients after general anesthesia, and effectively promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function.