Effect of acupuncture plus medium-frequency electric stimulation on bladder function after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture plus medium-frequency electric stimulation on bladder function after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Methods:A total of 170 patients confirmed by biopsy and surgical pathology and treated with radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer were randomly divided into an acupuncture group, an observation group and a control group by random digital table. Fifty-six cases in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture after surgery, one session each day, till the extubation day; 58 cases in the observation group were treated with acupuncture plus medium-frequency electric stimulation after surgery, one session each day, till the extubation day; and 56 cases in the control group didn't receive any intervention, and the catheter was retained till the extubation day. On the postoperative day 14, all groups were dealt with catheterization to determine the residual urine volume, in order to observe the occurrence rate of urinary retention and the recovery of bladder function and to compare the differences of the therapeutic effects among the groups. Results:The occurrence rates of urinary retention were respectively 16.1%, 20.7% and 46.4% in the acupuncture group, observation group and control group, with significant differences (P<0.05). When comparing the acupuncture group and the observation group with the control group, there were significant differences (bothP<0.05). In comparison between the acupuncture group and the observation group, there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The recovery rates of bladder function in the three group were respectively 42.9%, 60.3% and 41.1% without significant differences (P>0.05). Moreover, there were no significant between-group differences (P>0.05), but acupuncture plus medium-frequency electric stimulation showed a better tendency. Conclusion: The single application of acupuncture therapy is effective and able to prevent urinary retention after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Acupuncture plus medium-frequency electric stimulation can effectively enhance the recovery of bladder function and reduce the residual urine volume in the bladder to the maximum.