Objective To explore the effect of non-implantable sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) on the symptoms of patients with functional constipation (FC), in order to provide more basis for the establishment of clinical treatment plan for FC.

Methods 132 FC patients hospitalized in the Department of Anorectal Surery, Xi'an Mayinglong Coloproctological Hospital from September 2016 to November 2020 were selected and divided into two groups. There were 65 patients treated with SNS in the SNS group, included 38 patients with outlet obstructive constipation(OCC) and 27 patients with mixed constipation(MIX); There were 67 patients treated with electroacupuncture at eight-liao point in the control group, included 37 patients with OCC and 30 patients with MIX. Wexner score, nitricoxide synthase(NOS) and cholecystokinin(CCK) levels were compared intra- and inter- groups.

Results After treatment, Wexner score and CCK level decreased, and NOS level increased in both groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of NOS and CCK between the two groups before treatment, while the differences between the two groups after treatment were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The levels of NOS and CCK in the two groups were abnormal (P < 0.05).

Conclusions Both treatments can improve the symptoms of constipation and regulate the levels of serum NOS and CCK, and the effect of non-implantable SNS is better, but two methods could not return NOS and CCKlevelsto normal.