[Impacts of moxibusiton on pain in the dressing change after perianal abscess surgery: a randomized controlled trial]

To evaluate the therapeutic effect on pain in the dressing change after perianal abscess surgery treated with warm suspending moxibustion at Changqiang (GV 1).

One hundred and sixty patients were randomized into a moxibustion group and a far-infrared therapy group, 80 cases in each one. In the moxibustion group, the warm suspending moxibustion at Changqiang (GV 1) was applied. In the far-infrared therapy group, the infrared ray was radiated at Changqiang (GV 1). The treatment started in 10 min after dressing change in the two groups. Totally, 8 treatments were required. The time requirement being equal to or less than 2 score in the assessment face scale (AFS), the case number of pain relief in 10 min after treatment and the intention of the two therapies after everyday dressing change were observed in the patients of the two groups.

In the moxibustion group, the time of pain relief was shorter than that of the far-infrared therapy group [(11.5 +/- 3.9) min vs (17.8 +/- 3.8) min on the 1st day; (9.4 +/- 3.6) min vs (15.2 +/- 4.3) min on the 2nd day; (7.8 +/- 2.7) min vs (14.3 +/- 3.2) min on the 3rd day; (6.4 +/- 3.3) min vs (10.5 +/- 2.9) min on the 4th day; (5.9 +/- 2.9) min vs (11.2 +/- 1.9) min on the 5th day; (5.3 +/- 2.2) min vs (8.8 +/- 2.3) min on the 6th day; (5.4 +/- 1.8) min vs (9.2 +/- 2.1) min on the 7th day; (5.1 +/- 1.4) min vs (9.5 +/- 2.6) min on the 8th day, all P < 0.05]. The case numbers of pain relief in 10 min after treatment were 74 cases, 75 cases, 77 cases and 78 cases from the 1st to the 4th day separately in the moxibustion group, which were much more than 63 cases, 65 cases, 68 cases and 69 cases in the far-infrared therapy group (all P < 0.05). The treatment intention scores in the moxibustion group were better than those in the far-infrared therapy group (all P < 0.05).

The warm suspending moxibustion at Changqiang (GV 1) relieves pain rapidly in the dressing change of much more patients after perianal abscess surgery in much shorter time as compared with the far-infrared therapy. Moreover, the patients have more expectation to be treated with moxibustion therapy.