Selection Pattern of Acupuncture Points for Postoperative Gastrointestinal Function Recovery after Gastrointestinal Tumor Treatment Based on Data Mining and Complex Network Analysis
REN Sisi
HOU Yuchao
QIN Shanya
CHENG Shuqun
Abstract：Objective To explore the acupoint selection patterns for acupuncture in promoting gastrointestinal function recovery after gastrointestinal tumor surgery using data mining and complex network analysis,and to summarize core acupoints and their combinations to provide a scientific basis for optimizing clinical treatment protocols.Methods Clinical studies on acupuncture for postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery after gastrointestinal tumor were retrieved from Chinese and English databases,spanning from their inception to January 4,2025.Frequency analysis was conducted using Excel,association rule analysis with SPSS Modeler 18.0,cluster analysis with SPSS Statistics 26.0,and complex network analysis,including K-core and community detection,was performed using Gephi 0.10.1 to summarize acupoint selection patterns and their correlations with syndrome types.Results A total of 211 studies were included,involving 78 acupoints with a cumulative usage frequency of 869.Millineed needle acupuncture was the primary intervention,with Zusanli(ST36)being the most frequently used acupoint,followed by Neiguan(PC6)and Shangjuxu(ST37).The stomach meridian of Zu-Yangming was the most commonly utilized meridian,with acupoints predominantly located in the lower limbs.Association rule analysis identified"Zusanli(ST36)-Sanyinjiao(SP6)"as a core acupoint combination.Cluster analysis grouped high-frequency acupoints into three categories,while complex network analysis revealed two core acupoint clusters.Analysis of syndrome-specific acupoint combinations provided insights into tailored acupoint selections for different syndrome types.Conclusion Acupuncture treatment for postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery after gastrointestinal tumor is divided into two major categories:distal point selection and proximal point selection.It follows the principles of selecting points along meridians and matching Yin and Yang,with ST36,PC6,and ST37 as core points,and the stomach meridian and spleen meridian as the primary meridians.Clinically,points can be selected and adjusted based on the syndrome type to optimize the treatment plan.
Keywords：AcupunctureGastrointestinal tumorsPostoperative gastrointestinal function recoveryRules of acupoint selectionData mining
Publication Date：2026-03-28
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-31(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 657-663 )