Acupuncture versus metoclopramide in treatment of postoperative gastroparesis syndrome in abdominal surgical patients: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Postoperative gastroparesis syndrome (PGS) is a common complication after abdominal surgery in patients with primary liver cancer. However, surgeons usually do not have effective treatment for them.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of acupuncture applied to Zusanli and other acupoints on PGS in patients after abdominal surgery.


METHODS
Sixty-three PGS patients of abdominal surgery, from Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital, were randomized into acupuncture group (32 cases) and metoclopramide group (31 cases). The patients in acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture applied to Zusanli and other acupoints once a day, while the patients in metoclopramide group were intramuscularly injected 20 mg metoclopramide three times a day.


METHODS
Volume of gastric drainage, number of treatment and cure rate in the two groups were measured and evaluated.


RESULTS
Acupuncture and metoclopramide could significantly reduce gastric drainage volume. In acupuncture group, the cure rate was 90.6% and the number of treatment was 6.58+/-4.26, while in metoclopramide group, the cure rate and the number of treatment were 32.3% and 10.13+/-3.60 respectively. There were significant differences in gastric drainage volume, cure rate and number of treatment between the two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture is a good treatment for PGS, with fewer treatments, high cure rate and rapid effect.
Sun
Bao-Mu
BM
Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China.
Luo
Ming
M
Wu
Sheng-Bing
SB
Chen
Xiao-Xia
XX
Wu
Meng-Chao
MC
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*
D008787:Metoclopramide