[Clinical study on acupuncture combined with medication in restoration of gastrointestinal functions for postoperative patients with gastric cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To observe clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with medication in restoration of gastrointestinal functions for postoperative patients with gastric cancer.


METHODS
Ninety patients undergoing radical surgeries for gastric cancer were randomly, according to the sequence of their operations, divided into three groups: a control group treated conventionally after their surgeries (group CONT, 30 cases), a Chinese medicine group treated by Simo Decoction administered by way of a nutrient canal in addition to the conventional treatment (group CM, 30 cases), and an acupuncture plus Chinese medicine group treated by warming needling in addition to those given in the Chinese medicine group (group ACUP+CM, 30 cases). Therapeutic effects were estimated 10 days after their operations.


RESULTS
The time for restoration of gastrointestinal functions was obviously shortened, and the problems of poor appetite and difficulty in defecation were more markedly improved in group ACUP+CM than those in both group CONT and group CM (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Ten days after operations, the number of patients with normal lymphocytes and normal percentage rate of lymphocytes to neutrophile granulocytes was obviously more in group ACUP+CM than those in both group CONT and group CM (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine is favorable in accelerating early air exhaustion and defecation, improving clinical symptoms, as well as in bi-directional regulating peripheral white blood cells.
Yin
Shuang-hong
SH
Traditional Chinese Medicine College, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China.
Du
Ye-qin
YQ
Liu
Ben
B
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C542832:simo