Clinical observation on electroacupuncture at "four points of sacral region" on moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical therapeutic effect between electroacupuncture at "four points of sacral region" and transurethral Erbium laser in treatment of moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.@*METHODS@#A total of 68 patients of moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy were divided into an electroacupuncture group (34 cases) and an Erbium laser group (34 cases, 3 cases dropped off) according to the settings. In the electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture was applied at "four points of sacral region", i.e. points of 0.5 cun beside bilateral sacrococcygeal joints and bilateral Huiyang (BL 35), with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, 60 min each time, once every other day, 3 times a week, 12 times as one course of treatment. In the Erbium laser group, transurethral Erbium laser technology was given, once every 4 weeks as one course of treatment. Both groups were treated for 5 courses. The scores of the International Consultation on Incontinence questionnaire-short form (ICI-Q-SF) and the incontinence quality of life questionnaire (I-QOL) were observed before treatment, after each course of treatment and in follow-up after 1 and 2 months of treatment completion, respectively, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared with those before treatment, the ICI-Q-SF scores were decreased while the I-QOL scores were increased after 5 courses of treatment and in follow-up after 1, 2 months of treatment completion in the two groups (P<0.01). The ICI-Q-SF score in follow-up after 2 months of treatment completion were higher than that after 5 courses of treatment in the Erbium laser group (P<0.05). After 3, 4, 5 courses of treatment and in follow-up after 1 and 2 months of treatment completion, the ICI-Q-SF scores in the electroacupuncture group were lower than those in the Erbium laser group (P<0.05, P<0.01); after 2, 3, 4, 5 courses of treatment and in follow-up after 1 and 2 months of treatment completion, the I-QOL scores in the electroacupuncture group were higher than those in the Erbium laser group (P<0.01). The change ranges of ICI-Q-SF score and I-QOL score between before treatment and after each course of treatment in the electroacupuncture group were lager than those in the Erbium laser group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The total effective rate was 61.8% (21/34) in the electroacupuncture group, which was superior to 19.4 (6/31) in the Erbium laser group (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Both electroacupuncture at "four points of sacral region" and transurethral Erbium laser can improve the clinical symptoms and the quality of life in patients of moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. The short-term efficacy and long-term efficacy of electroacupuncture are superior to the Erbium laser technology.

Efficacy of electroacupuncture nerve stimulation therapy for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture nerve stimulation therapy (ENST) for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS).@*METHODS@#A total of 68 patients with IC/PBS were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 34 cases in each one. The patients in the observation group were treated with ENST; abdominal four acupoints and sacral four acupoints were connected with a pair of electrodes and treated alternately every other day. The ENST was given 50 min per times, three times a week for 3 months. The patients in the control group were treated with perfusion therapy of four-medication combination (heparin sodinm, lidocaine, sodium bicarbonate, gentamicin sulfate), twice a week for the first 6-8 weeks, followed by twice per month for 3 months. The infusion fluid remained for 1 h before discharging. The O' Leary-Sant score, including interstitial cystitis symptom index (ICSI) and interstitial cystitis problem index (ICPI), 24 h urination frequency, visual analogue scale (VAS) and maximum bladder volume were observed before treatment and treatment of 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after treatment respectively; the adverse events during the treatment were also recorded.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the O'Leary-Sant score (ICSI, ICPI), 24 h urination frequency, VAS and maximum bladder volume in the two groups were improved after 1, 3 months treatment and 6 months after treatment (all <0.05). The scores of ICSI, ICPI, VAS and 24 h urination frequency in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (<0.05). The maximum bladder volume in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (<0.05). Six months after treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was 87.5% (28/32), which was higher than 69.7% (23/33) in the control group (<0.01). No significant adverse events occurred during the treatment.@*CONCLUSION@#ENST could effectively relieve the clinical symptoms of IC/PBS, but its long-term efficacy needs further observation.

Efficacy impacts of the different treatment frequencies on female stress urinary incontinence / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect on female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) treated with the pudendal nerve stimulation of electroacupuncture therapy at different frequencies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients were divided into a group treated three times every week (group A) and a group treated twice every week (group B), 30 cases in each one. The pudendal nerve stimulation of electroacupuncture therapy was adopted at Disixue (four acupoints on sacral region), 60 min in each time in the two groups, treated three times a week or twice a week respectively. SUI severity and the score of life quality were observed before and after 12 treatments separately. The efficacy was evaluated in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the end of treatment, SUI severity was relieved and the score of life quality was improved in the two groups (all P<0.01). The results in group A were superior to group B [0 (0-4.3) vs 4 (0-5), P<0.01]. At the end of treatment, the total effective rate in group A was 90.0% (27/30) and was 76.7% (23/30) in group B; the efficacy in group A was better than that in group B (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pudendal nerve stimulation of electroacupuncture therapy achieves the definite efficacy on female SUI and the results in the treatment of three times a week are superior to those in the treatment of twice a week.</p>