[Postoperative acute urinary retention in anorectal diseases treated with acupuncture combined with...

To observe the efficacy differences between acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion and acupuncture on acute urinary retention after epidural anaesthesia for anorectal diseases.

A total of 60 patients were randomized into an acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 31 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Shuidao (ST 28), Pangguangshu (BL 28), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Yinlingquan (SP 9). In the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group, grain-moxibustion was given at Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) and Shuidao (ST 28) on the basis of acupuncture. Those who failed to urinate 60 min after the first treatment received the second treatment. 30 min after the second treatment, the lower abdominal symptom scores before and after treatment as well as the bladder residual urine volume after the first urination after treatment were compared between the two groups. In addition, the clinical efficacy and security were evaluated.

Compared before treatment, the symptom scores after treatment were reduced in the two groups (P<0.05), and the score in the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group was lower than that in the acupuncture group after treatment (P<0.05). The bladder residual urine volume in the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group was (26.71±17.01) mL, which was lower than (35.32±20.76) mL in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.5% (29/31) in the acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion group, which was superior to 71.0% (22/31) in the acupuncture group (P<0.05).

The efficacy of acupuncture combined with grain-moxibustion is superior to simple acupuncture on acute urinary retention after epidural anaesthesia for anorectal diseases, which is safe and reliable.