OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinic effect of abdominal needling (AN) on post-cardiosurgical operational gastrointestinal dysfunction. METHODS: Sixty patients were equally assigned to two groups, the AN group and the control group. AN applied on the AN group was conducted by needling at Xiawan (Ren 10), Qihai (Ren 6), Qipang, Guanyuan (Ren 4), Qixue, Shuifen (Ren 9), Tianshu (St. 25) and Daju (St. 27), starting from the first day after operation, once every day with the needle retained time of 20 min, 5 days as one therapeutic course. The control group was treated with the conventional post-operational measurement with intravenous injection of 20 mg Omeprazole once a day, for 3 successive days. The score on symptoms as anorexia, weakness, abdominal distension, constipation, laziness to speak, nausea and vomiting, weakened borborygmus, pale-yellow complexion and edema, etc. , were observed. RESULTS: The symptom scores in the aspects of anorexia, weakness, abdominal distension, constipation, weakened borborygmus, nausea and vomiting in the AN group were significant difference when compared with before treatment and the control group (P <0.01). After treatment the improvement in the control group only showed in weakness and pale-yellow complexion (P <0.01). Observation on gastric emptying showed that 24 h gastric paresis occurred in 17 patients (56.7%) of the AN group, and 22 (73.3%) of the control group; the 24 h and 72 h barium residue (strip) in the AN group was 10.60 +/- 4.61 and 8.53 +/- 4.08 respectively, while in the control group 17.07 +/- 3.99 and 15.83 +/- 4.19; the 24 h, 72 h gastric emptying rate in the former was (47.00 +/- 23.07) % and (57.33 +/- 20.37) %, and in the latter (14.67 +/- 19.95) % and (20.83 +/- 20.97) %, all showed significant difference between them (P <0.05 or P <0.01). Levels of motilin in the two groups after operation were decreased showing significant difference in comparison with before operation (P < 0.01), and AN group was raised after teratment, also showing significant difference between groups (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: AN can strengthen gastrointestinal peristalsis, promote gastrointestinal emptying, recover quickly gastrointestinal hormone to the normal range. Besides, it is safe and effective, with no pain or only slight pain, easy in locating the acupoint accurately, standard prescription, high compliance of patients, and convenient for clinical operating, therefore, it is worthy of spreading in clinical practice.
