Acupuncture and moxibustion for incomplete adhesive intestinal obstruction: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion for incomplete adhesive intestinal obstruction. MethodsA total of 100 patients with incomplete adhesive intestinal obstruction were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, and there were 50 patients in each group. The control group was treated with routine western medicine treatment, while the observation group was treated with acupuncture and moxibustion therapy on the foundation of the routine western medicine treatment of the control group. Zhōngwăn (中脘CV12), Tiānshū (天枢ST25), Zúsānlĭ (足三里ST36), Shàngjùxū (上巨虚ST37), Zhīgōu (支沟TE6), Dàchángshū (大肠俞BL 25), and Xiăochángshū (小肠俞BL27) were taken when acupuncture was performed. Moxibustion was performed with moxibustion box on abdomen after acupuncture. The time of abdominal pain relief, the first anal exhausting, the first defecation and intestines sound recovery, surgery conversion rate and clinical efficacy were observed in the two groups. ResultsThe time of abdominal pain relief, the first anal exhausting, the first defecation and intestines sound recovery in the observation group were all shorter than those of the control group. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups (all P < 0.01). The surgery conversion rate of the observation group was lower than that of the control group, there was statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The clinical efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). ConclusionsAcupuncture and moxibustion therapy on the foundation of the routine western medicine treatment, which can reduce the surgical conversion rate and cut down the time of treatment, was superior to routine western medicine treatment on the clinical efficacy of incomplete adhesive intestinal obstruction.