Clinical Study on Deep Needling at Tianshu (ST 25) and Fujie (SP 14) plus Electroacupuncture for Functional Constipation / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of deep needling at Tianshu (ST 25) and Fujie (SP 14) plus electroacupuncture in treating severe functional constipation (FC).Method Sixty-three patients with severe FC were randomized into a treatment group of 33 cases and a control group of 30 cases. The treatment group was intervened by deep needling at Tianshu (ST 25) and Fujie (SP 14) plus electroacupuncture, while the control group was by sham electroacupuncture. The Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movement (CSBM), Bristol Stool Scale (BSS), and Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) were evaluated before and after intervention.Result In the treatment group, the CSBM after 2-week, 4-week, and 8-week treatments and CSBM of the 4-week and 12-week follow-up study were significantly different from that before intervention (P<0.05). In the control group, the CSBM after 8-week treatments was significantly different from that before intervention (P<0.05). The CSBM after 2-week, 4-week, and 8-week treatments and CSBM of the 4-week and 12-week follow-up study in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). The BSS scores were significantly changed after 2-week, 4-week, and 8-week treatments in both groups compared to that before intervention (P<0.01,P<0.05). The BSS scores after 2-week, 4-week, and 8-week treatments in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.01,P<0.05). The item scores of PAC-QOL (physical discomfort, psychosocial discomfort, worries and concerns, and satisfaction scores and global score) were significantly changed after intervention in the treatment group (P<0.05). The item scores of PAC-QOLA including physical discomfort, worries and concerns, and satisfaction and global score were significantly changed after intervention in the control group (P<0.05). After intervention, the PAC-QOL scores of the treatment group were significant different from that of the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Deep needling at Tianshu (ST 25) and Fujie (SP 14) plus electroacupuncture is an effective method in treating severe FC.