Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for prevention of postoperative urinary retention: A systematic review

Introduction: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) has been proposed for post-operative urinary retention (POUR). This meta-analysis evaluated the effect of TEAS in preventing POUR.Methods: Databases were searched until February 6, 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about TEAS for preventing POUR were included. The primary concern was the incidence of POUR, with post-void residual urine volume as a secondary outcome.Results: Fourteen studies with 2865 participants were identified. TEAS reduced the incidence of POUR (RR = 0.44, 95%CI = 0.33 to 0.58, P < 0.00001) and decreased the post-void residual urine volume (MD =-75.41 mL, 95%CI =-118.76 to-32.06, P = 0.0007). The preventive effect on POUR was found in patients receiving anorectal, gynecologic, orthopedic and biliary surgery, but not urinary surgery. Dilatational-and continuous-wave TEAS had a great outcome in preventing POUR. Intraoperative TEAS, preoperative and intraoperative TEAS, and postoperative TEAS were beneficial, and TEAS was more beneficial when compared with sham TEAS and blank control. It is nevertheless difficult to rule out publication bias.Conclusions: TEAS could prevent POUR. Due to insufficient evidence, multicenter, large-sample and high-quality RCTs should be conducted.