With the popularization of the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery, promoting postoperative recovery and reducing postoperative complications have become prominent areas of research. Acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, it has been found that perioperative acupuncture has shown significant advantages in preventing and treating postoperative complications. This review aims to summarize relevant clinical studies in recent years, evaluate the safety, efficacy, and underlying mechanisms of perioperative acupuncture, and provide a reference for its clinical application and future research.