Fig. 1.

Remnant sitz markers in the small intestine on abdominal radiograph of patients in the A and NA groups. (A) Patient in the A group have more sitz markers in the small intestine on postoperative day 1. (B) Patients in the NA group also have more sitz markers in the small intestine on postoperative day 1. (C) Most of the sitz markers (arrow) have passed through the IC valve by postoperative day 3 in patients in the A group. (D) Some migration of sitz markers (arrow) in the small intestine is detected on postoperative day 3 in patients in the NA group, but none have passed through the IC valve.

A = acupuncture; NA = non-acupuncture; IC = ileocecal.