Improvement of Urinary Retention Symptoms After Vaginal Delivery with Electroacupuncture

Post-partum urinary retention (PPUR) is defined as the inability to urinate spontaneously after 6 h postpartum with residual urine ≥200 mL. Management of PPUR by inserting a urinary catheter. Electroacupuncture (EA) increased detrusor contractions, encouraged micturition, and reduced residual volume with minimal side effects.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of EA in accelerating micturition and reducing residual urine in patients with PPUR.

This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial. This study was performed on 60 subjects who presented with residual urine volume between 500 mL and 1000 mL 6 h after delivery (measured with a female catheter) and were divided into EA (n = 30) and sham (n = 30) groups. In the EA group, acupuncture needles were inserted into the following points: CV3, CV4, bilateral SP6, BL32, and BL33. The needles were connected to an EA stimulator with a continuous wave 2 Hz for 30 min. In the sham group, the needles were not inserted into the skin but only attached to the skin with round band-aids. They were then connected to EA, but no electrical stimulation was given. EA was performed two times within 24 h, while the patient had a catheter inserted.

The first spontaneous micturition in the EA group was faster (average time to first spontaneous micturition in the EA group occurred in 102.4 (±63.6) min and spontaneous micturition in the sham group occurred in 191.8 (±97.5) min). This result was statistically significant with p < 0.001. Residual urine volume with the EA therapy study group was less compared to the control group (sham). The median final residual volume in the EA group was 100 mL (0-400 mL), while in the sham group was 185 mL (5-660 mL). This result was statistically significant with p = 0.005.

EA may accelerate spontaneous micturition and reduce residual urine volume in patients with PPUR.