A meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials with 2550 patients (1272 in the TEAS group and 1278 in the control group) evaluated the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of acupuncture points (TEAS) on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic surgery. TEAS significantly reduced the incidence of PONV [RR = 0.78, 95% CI (0.70, 0.87); P < 0.001], postoperative nausea (PON) [RR = 0.69, 95% CI (0.67, 0.82); P < 0.001] and postoperative vomiting (POV) [RR = 0.57, 95% CI (0.43–0.78); P < 0.001]. The intervention reduced time to first flatus [MD = −3.36 h, 95% CI (−6.65, −0.21); P = 0.04] and reduced the need for rescue antiemetic therapy [RR = 0.67, 95% CI (0.52, 0.87); P = 0.002]. Studies were searched in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases, with independent selection and assessment of risk of bias. TEAS has been shown to be an effective non-pharmacological adjunctive treatment to standard prophylaxis that improves postoperative recovery. Registration: CRD42024560238.