Objective To explore the effect of time-selected acupointhot compress in improving gastrointestinal dysfunction in critically ill patients.

Methods According to the inclusion criteria, a total of 80 critically ill patients were selectedand randomly divided into control group(n=39) and test group(n=41). The control group was treated with traditional methods, drugs were used to maintain the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier and promote gastrointestinal motility according to the doctor's advice, and parenteral nutrition was used for nutritional support when it was necessary. On the basis of the control group, the test group was given time-selected acupoint hot compress for one time per day. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Status Scoring System Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) scores were compared between the two groups before treatment and 7 days after treatment, and the levels of hemoglobin, serum albumin and prealbumin were compared between the two groups before treatment, 3 days and 7 days after treatment. The time of nutrition reaching the standard and the time of intestinal sound returning to normal status were recorded.

Results After 7 days of treatment, TCM syndrome score of the test group were (10.32±2.43), and (14.18±2.11) in the control group, TCM syndrome scores of both groups decreased, and it was lower in the test group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After 7 d of treatment, the diarrhea frequency of the experimental group was (2.83±0.15) times per day, which was less than (4.26±0.24) times per day in the control group (P < 0.01). The time of reaching the nutritional standard and the time to return to normal bowel sound in the test group were shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.01). On the 7th day of treatment, the levels of hemoglobin, serum albumin and prealbumin in test group and control group were higher than before treatment, and their levels in experimental group were higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). After 7 days of intervention, the APACHE Ⅱ score of the test group was (9.53±0.27), which was lower than (14.52±0.63) of the control group (P < 0.01).

Conclusion Time-selected acupoint hot compress can reduce the frequency of diarrhea, improve the gastrointestinal function of patients, shorten the time of nutrition reaching the standard and the time of intestinal sound returning to normal status, and ameliorate patients' nutritional status.