Resolution of Severe Gastric Dysmotility Disorder With Acupuncture

Patients with severe gastric dysmotility disorder (SGDD) often require parenteral nutrition or jejunostomy feeding. They frequently need long-life gastrostomy drainage tubes for gastric discharge and decompression. Currently few medical options exist for postoperative management. We were recently surprised by the beneficial effect of acupuncture in a case of SGDD, which we present herein.

The case involved a 68-y-old male who presented with a diagnosis of malignant pancreatic neoplasm for which he had a recent Whipple procedure. He had persistent nausea and vomiting, postoperative abscesses, and high nasogastric tube output. He was assessed to have SGDD, which required discharge on home total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and gastrostomy drainage. Manual acupuncture at the stomach meridian (ST-36) was performed on postdischarge, day 30. His stomach capacity returned to normal, and he eventually returned to a regular diet consistency and volume. His weight and nutritional parameters remained stable and he was weaned off TPN soon after.

Acupuncture of the appropriate stomach meridian may be an important modality for patients with SGDD. This case demonstrates the benefits of considering integrative approach in treatment of gastrointestinal conditions.