Effect of moxibustion combined with acupuncture intervention on the success rate of bedside naso intestinal catheterization in critically ill patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of moxibustion or acupuncture combined with prokinetic drugs (metoclopramide injection) on the success rate of placing the nasal and intestinal tubes in critically ill patients at bedside. Methods A total of 107 patients underwent enteral nutrition from January 2015 to August 2017 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Wenzhou Central Hospital in Zhejiang Province were recruited and given bedside manual placement of spiral nasointestinal tube. According to whether the acupuncture or moxibustion combined with the use of the prokinetic drugs in the process of placing the tube, the cases can be divided into three groups: simple prokinetic drugs group (n=23) , moxibustion combined with prokinetic drugs group (n=22) , acupuncture and moxibustion combined with prokinetic drugs group (n=62) . The success rate of catheterization in three groups was analyzed and compared statistically. Results After 72 hours of catheterization, bedside X-ray abdominal radiography showed that the end of the catheter was located behind the pylorus in 81 cases out of the 107 patients. The success rate of catheterization was 75.70%. The unsuccessful patients were given gastroscopy guided nasointestinal tube. The success rate of catheterization was 30.43% in simple prokinetic drugs group, 63.64% in moxibustion combined with prokinetic drugs group, and 96.77% in acupuncture and moxibustion combined with prokinetic drugs group. Comparing the success rate of the catheterization, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=49.75, P<0.01) . Conclusions The combination of moxibustion and acupuncture can significantly increasing the success rate of placing the spiral nasointestinal tube, and provide practical benefits for the critically ill patients. This method should be popularized in clinic. Key words: Intensive Care Units; Nasointestinal tube; Moxibustion; Acupuncture; Prokinetic drugs