Compared with open pneumonectomy, thoracoscopic pneumonectomy is characterized by minimal trauma, reduced blood loss, and faster recovery [1]. Postoperative hypothermia is a common clinical complication following thoracoscopic surgery [2]. Intraoperative hypothermia, defined as a core body temperature below 36˚C, occurs when patients are affected by multiple factors during the procedure [3]. Perioperative hypothermia is closely associated with anesthesia, surgical techniques, and the surgical environment, leading to decreased metabolism of general anesthetics, prolonged recovery time, chills, coagulation disorders, and extended hospital stays [4]. Perioperative hypothermia significantly impacts patients’ quality of life, making the intervention of intraoperative hypothermia a critical aspect of perioperative care. Studies [5] indicate that the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia in thoracoscopic surgery reaches as high as 72.7%, surpassing that of other surgical procedures, highlighting its substantial clinical research significance. Currently, the prevention of intraoperative hypothermia primarily relies on active warming measures, such as the use of heating blankets, cotton quilts, and intravenous fluid warming, which help maintain normal body temperature and reduce the occurrence of hypothermia. However, conventional warming measures have limited overall efficacy, and the risk of hypothermia remains [6]. Moxibustion with moxa cones, a distinctive traditional Chinese medicine technique, innovates upon conventional moxibustion by integrating the effects of hot compress, magnetic therapy, moxibustion, and moxa wool far-infrared therapy. When applied to specific acupoints, it generates effective thermal stimulation, promoting warming of the meridians, dispelling cold, activating blood circulation, and regulating qi, thereby aiding in the maintenance of body temperature [7][8]. In recent years, external treatments of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), such as moxibustion and acupoint application, have been increasingly utilized in perioperative management, though intraoperative research remains relatively limited [9][10]. Aici Moxibustion, which combines moxibustion with acupoint application, regulates body temperature by stimulating specific acupoints. Preliminary studies indicate its potential efficacy in preventing hypothermia, though further clinical validation is required. International research on TCM external therapies remains scarce, and the application and study of Aici Moxibustion acupoint application are also limited [11][12]. Given these findings, this study aims to analyze the clinical effects of Aici Moxibustion acupoint application on hypothermia during thoracoscopic pneumonectomy.

Patients undergoing thoracoscopic pneumonectomy are at higher risk of intraoperative hypothermia, which correlates with factors such as anesthesia duration, core temperature at admission, and surgical preparation time [13]. As a vital physiological parameter, body temperature is regulated by the thermoregulatory center and neurohumoral mechanisms to maintain a balance between heat production and dissipation, thereby sustaining a relatively stable internal environment. Hypothermia can compromise systemic stability, suppress immune function, and increase the risk of postoperative adverse events [14]. Therefore, intraoperative temperature management is of paramount importance.

Currently, clinical thermal preservation measures primarily involve basic interventions such as room temperature regulation, quilt insulation, and fluid warming, which can provide some degree of warmth but still result in a relatively high incidence of hypothermia [15]. The findings of this study indicate that the experimental group exhibited higher intraoperative body temperatures at 30, 60, and 90 minutes, as well as at the end of surgery, compared to the control group. Additionally, the experimental group required less volume of colloidal and crystalloid fluids than the control group, had a shorter recovery time, and demonstrated lower rates of intraoperative hypothermia, postoperative agitation, and chills. These results suggest that the application of moxibustion at specific acupoints can stabilize intraoperative body temperature in patients undergoing thoracoscopic pneumonectomy, reduce the risk of hypothermia, shorten recovery time, and promote patient rehabilitation. The mechanism of action lies in the rational selection of acupoints through syndrome differentiation therapy, which integrates the effects of traditional Chinese medicine with the meridian functions of acupoints, achieving an external treatment effect for internal diseases. During clinical application, moxibustion at specific acupoints can produce multiple effects, including far-infrared radiation from moxa, heat application, moxibustion, and magnetotherapy, effectively dispelling wind-cold, warming the body, relaxing meridians, and promoting blood circulation [16]. Moxibustion at specific acupoints offers sustained effects and stable temperature, continuously stimulating the acupoints to enhance the warming and dispelling of cold effects, accelerate blood circulation, and maintain stable intraoperative and postoperative body temperature, thereby reducing the risk of cold pathogen invasion during surgery [17]. Furthermore, the application of moxibustion at specific acupoints is simple to perform and has fewer side effects, making it suitable for surgical patients.

In conclusion, acupoint moxibustion application can reduce intraoperative body temperature fluctuations, shorten postoperative recovery time, and decrease the risk of adverse events such as intraoperative hypothermia in patients undergoing laparoscopic pneumonectomy.