Clinical approach on standardized treatment of patients with intractable hiccups by acupuncture combined with acupoint injection / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with acupoint injection for treatment of patients with intractable hiccups and to seek its standard therapeutic regimen. Methods A prospective study was conducted. Eighty-six patients with intractable hiccups in various clinical departments in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University met the inclusion criteria of this study were selected,and according to the different treatment options they were divided into observation group and control group with 43 cases in each group. In the observation group,on the basis of treatment for their primary diseases,the rules of soothing the chest oppression and regulating the flow of qi(Kuanxiong Liqi)and regulating the stomach and sending down abnormally ascending qi(Hewei Jiangni)were followed in treatment,and acupuncture was carried out at Danzhong,Neiguan(double=bilateral acupoints),Zusanli(double),Sanyinjiao(double),Taichong(double)with the needle staying for 20 minutes each time,1 mL metoclopramide injection was injected at each of the bilateral Zusanli acupoints,once a day. In the control group,the patients received intramuscular injection of 10 mg metoclopramide once a day. Both groups were treated for consecutive 7 days. After treatment for 3 days and 5 days,the clinical efficacy was observed,and before treatment and after treatment for 3,5,7 days,the changes of hiccups frequency and persistent duration were investigated. Results Compared with the control group,the total effective rates in observation group on the 3rd and 5th day after treatment were significantly increased〔3 days88.4%(38/43)vs. 51.2%(22/43),5 days95.3%(41/43)vs. 62.8%(27/43),both P<0.01〕. With the prolongation of therapy,the hiccups frequency was gradually decreased and the persistent duration of hiccup was gradually shortened,reaching the lowest degree on the 7th day after treatment,and the changes were more significant in the observation group〔hiccups frequency(times/day)0.57±0.08 vs. 2.04±1.78,hiccup duration time(minutes/time)1.07±0.68 vs. 9.23±5.69,both P<0.05〕. Conclusion The therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with acupoint injection for treatment of patients with intractable hiccups are superior to signal western medicine therapy.