ArticleFrontiers in neuroscience2022
Sustained ameliorating effects and autonomic mechanisms of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation at ST36 in patients with chronic constipation.
Article in Frontiers in neuroscience, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Comparative effectiveness of multiple different non-pharmacologic interventions for post-stroke constipation: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Pooled it
- Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for cancer-related pain management in patients receiving chronic opioid therapy: a randomized clinical trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023Trial
- Elobixibat improves rectal sensation in patients with chronic constipation aged ≥60 years: a randomised placebo-controlled study.BMJ open gastroenterology · 2023Trial
- Multidimensional Optimization of Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy With Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of digestive diseasesTrial
- Acupuncture and Acupressure for Cancer Symptom Management: an Opinion Statement Based on Preliminary Evidence Mapping.Current treatment options in oncology · 2026Review
- Noninvasive electrical neuromodulation involving vagus nerve mechanism for functional constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology · 2026Review
- Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation to assist bowel cleansing: study protocol for a single-center, single-blind, randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Noninvasive electrical neuromodulation for gastrointestinal motility disorders.Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background and aims: The treatment of chronic constipation is still a great challenge in clinical practice. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and sustained effects of transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) at acupoint ST36 on the treatment of chronic constipation and explore possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: Forty-four patients with chronic constipation were recruited and randomly assigned to a TEA group or sham-TEA group. A bowel diary was recorded by the patients. The Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptom (PAC-SYM) and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QoL) questionnaires were administered during each visit. Anal and rectal functions were evaluated with anorectal manometry. Autonomic functions were assessed by the special analysis of heart rate variability derived from the ECG recording. Results: Compared with sham-TEA, 2-week TEA treatment significantly increased the number of spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) (5.64 ± 0.54 vs. 2.82 ± 0.36, Conclusion: TEA ameliorates constipation with sustained effects, which may be mediated via improvement of rectal sensitivity and enhancement of vagal activity. Clinical trial registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [ChiCTR210004267].
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