Therapeutic Observation of Abdominal Electroacupuncture plus Chinese Medicinal Application at Umbilicus for Poststroke Constipation / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of abdominal electroacupuncture plus umbilicus application with Chinese medication in treating poststroke constipation.Method A total of 160 patients with poststroke constipation were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 80 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by abdominal electroacupuncture plus umbilicus application with Chinese medication, while the control group was intervened by oral administration of Phenolphthalein tablets. The constipation symptoms scores were observed before and after the treatment, and the clinical efficacies were compared.Result In the treatment group, the constipation symptoms scores were significantly changed after the treatment (P<0.05). In the control group, the scores of defecation duration and abdominal bloating were significantly changed after the treatment (P<0.05). The constipation scores in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group after the treatment (P<0.05). The recovery rate and total effective rate were respectively 66.3% and 92.5% in the treatment group, versus 40.0% and 78.8% in the control group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Abdominal electroacupuncture plus umbilicus application with Chinese medication is an effective method in treating poststroke constipation.