Abstract
Background: The treatment of progressive oropharyngeal dysphagias of neurological origin as well as esophageal motility disorders is extremely difficult and may involve artificial means of maintaining nutrition and hydration, such as the use of percutaneous gastrostomy and other surgeries. Acupuncture has been found to be beneficial in poststroke oropharyngeal dysphagia. Objective: To describe acupuncture treatment of a patient with progressive oropharyngeal dysphagia and esophageal motility disorder of undetermined etiology. Design, Setting, and Patient: Case report of a 68-year-old woman at a solo private practice in Kansas City, Missouri, treated beginning in 2004 and followed up through early 2007. Intervention: Acupuncture treatment including electroacupuncture for 11 sessions. Points used were SP 6 and SP 9 (connected with 2.5-Hz stimulation), LU 7, LI 4, and ST 36, bilaterally. From the second treatment onward, CV 22 was added. Each treatment lasted 25 minutes. Main Outcome Measure: Symptom response following acupuncture. Results: The patient reported complete resolution of symptoms after 11 sessions, and she has remained symptom-free for 2 years without needing further acupuncture treatment or any other therapy. Conclusion: Acupuncture should be considered as one of the therapeutic tools for treating oropharyngeal dysphagia and esophageal motility disorder.
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