Acupuncture for the Treatment of Postoperative Ileus After Gastrointestinal Surgery

Inclusion Criteria:

* Must have the ability to understand and sign a written informed consent document, and be willing to follow protocol requirements
* Diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer
* Bowel resection was performed via an open or laparoscopic approach
* Diagnosis of POI defined as one or more of the following criteria: 1) return to NPO status after initial attempts at oral diet, and/or 2) need for placement of nasogastric tube after surgery.
* Willingness to comply with all study interventions of acupuncture

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active Infection at or near the acupuncture site or systemic infection (e.g. sepsis)
* Physical deformities that could interfere with accurate acupuncture and point location
* Concurrent use of other alternative medicines such as herbal agents and high dose vitamins and minerals
* Known coagulopathy or taking heparin (including low molecular weight heparin) at full anti-coagulation doses (prophylaxis is allowed) or Coumadin at any dose. Patients on aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or other antiplatelet medicines will be allowed to participate
* Platelets \<50 H K/UL in the past 30 days
* White Blood Cells (WBCs) \<3.0 K/UL or Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) \<1500 K/UL in the past 30 days
* INR \>5 in the past 30 days
* Liver failure defined as liver function test \>5x upper limit of normal
* Implanted electrical device such as a cardiac pacemaker, insulin pump or pain pump
* Mental incapacitation or significant emotional or psychological disorder that, in the opinion of the investigators, precludes study entry
* Previous acupuncture treatment for any indications within 30 days of enrollment
* Currently pregnant
* Grade III lymphedema/lymphedema considered severe by the treating clinician
* Chronic daily opioid use prior to admission
* Enrollment in another surgical clinical trial