Exploring Acupuncture-Mediated Gut Microbiota Regulation for Post-PCI Depression in Coronary Heart Disease Based on the “Heart Corresponding to the Small Intestine” Theory

Abstract

The incidence of depression significantly elevates in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a condition pathologically linked to disruptions in the gut microbiota-mediated “gut-heart-brain axis. This phenomenon has emerged as a critical risk factor impeding postoperative recovery. Grounded in the core principle of visceral synergy from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory of “heart-small intestine interconnection, this study integrates evidence from both Chinese and Western medical research to systematically investigate the mechanisms underlying acupuncture’s regulation of gut microbiota and its therapeutic value for dual-heart diseases. This synergistic “treating heart via regulating intestine” effect provides a modern microbiological interpretation of visceral theory within the microbiota-gut-brain framework and establishes the scientific basis for acupuncture in managing post-PCI depression. Our findings offer theoretical support for integrated Chinese-Western treatment strategies and highlight acupuncture’s unique advantage in multi-target modulation.