The Effect of Acupuncture on Pulmonary Function Recovery Following Lung Resection

Lung resection surgery is the standard diagnostic and therapeutic approach for patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. However, removal of part of the lung inevitably leads to a reduction in lung volume. In addition, postoperative pain often limits respiratory movement, resulting in impaired pulmonary function recovery. Therefore, rehabilitation strategies are essential to help maintain and restore cardiopulmonary capacity following surgery. According to current clinical guidelines, the most commonly recommended rehabilitation methods include structured cardiopulmonary training and adequate perioperative analgesia. Other supportive interventions, such as physical therapy and alternative exercise programs, have also been explored in recent clinical studies, with varying levels of effectiveness. Given the steadily increasing number of patients undergoing lung resection each year, the development and evaluation of additional therapeutic strategies to enhance postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation are of growing importance.

Acupuncture has been widely applied in the management of respiratory diseases and in perioperative pain control. Evidence from clinical studies supports its therapeutic effect in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In patients with COPD, acupuncture has been shown to improve pulmonary function and quality of life. Furthermore, research has demonstrated that acupuncture can play a role in reducing postoperative pain and enhancing recovery. Despite these findings, a review of the literature indicates that no studies have yet specifically evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture in postoperative rehabilitation among patients who have undergone lung resection. Considering that lung cancer has been included in integrative oncology outpatient programs in traditional Chinese medicine, the potential role of acupuncture as an adjunct to rehabilitation after lung resection warrants systematic investigation.

This study is designed as a randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients in the control group will receive the current standard rehabilitation program, which consists of lung volume training with incentive spirometry following lung resection surgery. Patients in the intervention group will receive the same rehabilitation protocol with the addition of acupuncture therapy. Pulmonary function tests will be conducted one week after surgery in both groups to assess and compare postoperative outcomes. The primary endpoint will be the improvement of lung function parameters, while secondary outcomes will include pain levels, patient-reported quality of life, and tolerability of the intervention.

Through this design, the study aims to provide high-quality clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture in enhancing postoperative pulmonary rehabilitation after lung resection. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of integrative treatment strategies, offering patients improved recovery pathways that combine evidence-based conventional methods with traditional therapies.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged between 18 and 65 years.

Diagnosed with a single pulmonary lesion (e.g., solitary pulmonary nodule or adenocarcinoma in situ).

Scheduled to undergo elective wedge resection for the lung lesion.

Exclusion criteria

• History of prior lung resection.

Medical history of asthma or pulmonary tuberculosis.

History of pneumothorax prior to the current surgery.

Expectation to receive rehabilitation therapies other than the standard protocol-defined incentive spirometry during the study period.

Presence of other major systemic diseases (e.g., severe cardiovascular, renal, or hepatic impairment) that, in the investigator's opinion, render the patient unsuitable for trial participation.