Abstract:Objective:To observe the application and nursing effect of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with point application for patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction in intensive care unit. Methods:A total of 65 cases of patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction in intensive care unit were divided into the control group and the observation group according to the random number table method,32 and 33 cases in each group respectively. The control group was treated with routine western medicine,and the observation group was additionally given acupuncture and moxibustion combined with point application based on the treatment of the control group. Before and after treatment , the intra- abdominal pressures, bowel sounds, abdominal circumference, scores of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE Ⅱ) and gastrointestinal dysfunction as well as enteral nutrition tolerance in the two groups were compared. Results:Before treatment,there was no significant difference being found in the comparison of intra-abdominal pressures and bowel sounds between the two groups(P>0.05). After treatment,the intra-abdominal pressures and bowel sounds in the two groups were improved when compared with those before treatment,and the above two indexes in the observation group were better than those in the control group,the difference being significant(P<0.05). Before treatment,there was no significant difference being found in the comparison of abdominal circumferences and APACHE Ⅱ scores between the two groups(P>0.05). After treatment, the abdominal circumferences and APACHE Ⅱ scores in the two groups were improved when compared with those before treatment,and the above indexes in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group, the difference being significant(P<0.05). Before treatment, there was no significant difference being found in the comparison of gastrointestinal dysfunction scores and enteral nutrition tolerance between the two groups(P>0.05). After treatment, the gastrointestinal dysfunction score and enteral nutrition tolerance in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group,the difference being significant(P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with point application can effectively relieve the symptoms of intra- abdominal hypertension in patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction in intensive care unit, and improve bowel sounds, scores of APACHE Ⅱ and gastrointestinal dysfunction as well as enteral nutrition tolerance.