Clinical Study of the Analgesic Effect of Acupuncture plus Medication on Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Cholecystitis / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the relieving effect of acupuncture plus medication on persistent right upper abdominal and scapular pains during acute exacerbation of chronic cholecystitis.Method One hundred patients with acute exacerbation of chronic cholecystitis were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 50 cases each. The control group received medication and the treatment group, acupuncture at points Yanglingquan, Dannang and Taichong in addition. Both groups were treated once daily, for a total of seven days. Liver function indicators (alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL)) were measured and the VAS score was recorded in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the three groups.Result There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the liver function indicators and the VAS score in the three groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in TBIL and DBIL, and the VAS score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 98% in the treatment group and 50% in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture plus medication can effectively relieve the pain induced by acute exacerbation of chronic cholecystitis and improve the liver function indicators in the patients.