A comparison of therapeutic effects between enteral nutrition alone and enteral nutrition combined with acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of patients with craniocerebral trauma complicated by gastric paralysis: a prospective study / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of enteral nutrition combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of craniocerebral trauma complicated by gastric paralysis.Methods A prospective study was conducted.One hundred and sixty-seven patients with craniocerebral trauma complicated by gastric paralysis admitted to the Department of Neurological Critical Care Medicine in Affiliated Hospital of the Logistics University Chinese People's Armed Police Force from January 2013 to October 2015 were divided into single group (83 cases) and combined group (84 cases) according to the random number table method.The basic treatment program was the same in the two groups.On the basis of gastrointestinal decompression,a nasojejunal tube was indwelled in the digestive canal of the patients in single group,and the nutrient food could be given by dripping slowly and continuously through the tube into the body,while in the combined group,they were additionally treated by acupuncture and moxibustion at auricular point,zusanli and neiguan acupoints,1 time a day,each time 30 minutes.Both groups were treated consecutively for 30 days,and then the clinical efficacies were evaluated.Before and after treatment in both groups,the changes of total serum protein (TP),pre-albumin (PA),hemoglobin (Hb) were observed;the incidences of reflux,vomiting,abdominal distension,diarrhea,pulmonary infection and intestine derived infection were also evaluated.Results After treatment the levels of TP,PA,Hb were significantly higher in combined group than those in the single group [TP (g/L)36.97 ± 2.17 vs.33.14± 2.13,PA (mg/L)215.19 ± 7.91 vs.203.15 ± 6.12,Hb (g/L)126.73 ± 11.17 vs.117.61 ± 11.24,all P ＜ 0.01].The numbers of patients with reflux,vomiting,abdominal distension,diarrhea were significantly lower in combined group than those in the single group,respectively (the number of patients had reflux being 15 cases vs.31 cases,vomiting 13 cases vs.28 cases,abdominal distension 17 cases vs.29 cases,diarrhea 17 cases vs.31 cases) and pulmonary infection (17 cases vs.29 cases),intestine derived infection (4 cases vs.12 cases),all the above comparisons showing statistically (all P ＜0.05).Conclusions Enteral nutrition combined with acupuncture and moxibustion treatment can effectively enhance the patients' nutritional status,reduce gastrointestinal dysfunction and the incidence of complications,thus the prognosis of patients with craniocerebral trauma complicated by gastric paralysis is obviously improved.