Impact of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Postoperative Recovery in Older Adults Following Pterygium Excision: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Xinlu Wu¹Ledan Huang¹Huanhuan Sun¹Yating Chen¹Haibo Guo¹Yuchen Wang¹Jingye Pan¹Xinxin Xinxin Wang²Yunchang Mo¹Qinxue Dai^3*

• ¹The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
• ²Wenzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wenzhou, China
• ³First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) during the perioperative period on the quality of postoperative recovery among patients undergoing pterygium excision. Methods: A total of 110 patients scheduled for unilateral pterygium excision were enrolled and randomly assigned in equal numbers to the TEAS group or the control group. In the TEAS group, patients received TEAS at the LI4 and PC6 acupoints, initiated 30 minutes before anesthesia induction and continued until the conclusion of surgery. In the control group, patients had electrode pads applied without active stimulation. Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (S-TAI) scores, and Quality of Recovery-40 Questionnaire (QoR-40) scores were collected from both groups. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed in baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between the two groups. At 24 hours postoperatively, patients in the TEAS group demonstrated significantly higher QoR-40 scores and significantly lower NRS pain scores and postoperative SAI scores compared to the control group. Conclusions: TEAS was effective in reducing postoperative pain and anxiety levels while enhancing the quality of postoperative recovery in patients undergoing pterygium surgery.