Clinical Observation Of Electro-acupuncture On Sphenopalatine Ganglion After Intramuscular Atropine On Chronic Rhinitis Symptoms Of Nasal Obstruction

ObjectiveTo observe the improvement in nasal obstruction on chronic rhinitis afterelectro-acupuncture on sphenopalatine ganglion combined with intramuscular atropine,and to discuss the possible mechanism of this therapy for chronic rhinitis.Methods78patients with chronic rhinitis were injected atropine0.5mg, and10minutes later,their sphenopalatine ganglion in nasal were stimulated by electro-acupuncture whichlasted20minutes. For the time point of before the above treatment, immediately and oneweek after the treatment, nasal endoscope was used to observe the change of nasalmucosa, visual analogue scale (VAS) was applied to evaluate the severity of nasalobstruction，rhinomanometry was used to evaluate the nasal resistance. The changeswere analysised between before the treatment and both immediately and after thetreatment.ResultsMost of the patients broaden their nasal cavity with nasal mucous hyperemiarelieved and turbinate lessened, the probability of immediately after the treatment is92.3%(75/78), and one week after the treatment is79.3%(70/78); The mean of beforeand after the treatment evaluated by the VAS is6.24±0.28(before the treatment),2.55±0.29(immediately after the treatment),2.91±0.28(one week after the treatment),there were statistical differences between both two after the treatment time point andbefore the treatment(P<0.05); The mean of nasal resistance before and after thetreatment is0.93±0.09(before the treatment),0.33±0.03(immediately after the treatment),0.36±0.03(one week after the treatment), there were statistical differences between both two after the treatment time point and before the treatment(P<0.05)ConclutionElectro-acupuncture on sphenopalatine ganglion after intramuscular atropine caneffectively improve the nasal obstruction on chronic rhinitis, which might be an effectivenon-operative treatment for them; Electro-acupuncture on sphenopalatine ganglionexcites the sympathetic nervous system, while intramuscular atropine inhibit theparasympathetic nervous system, their combined adjust the balance of autonomicnervous system in nasal, which might be the mechanisms of this therapy to relieve nasalcongestion on chronic rhinitis.