The Development Owing To Acupuncture In Defecation Function Of Patients After Undergoing Anterior Resection For Rectal Cancer:a Clinical Study

PURPOSE:This research observed the effects of theocratical acupuncture on the defecation function of patients after undergoing anterior resection for rectal cancers.METHODS:It is a prospective randomized controlled clinical study which includes30qualified patients according to inclusion criteria. All the patients were equally divided into two groups called treatment group and control group. Patients in treatment group received therapy of acupuncture once a day for consecutive one month since the7th day after operation. However, patients in the control group did not receive any treatment targeting anterior resection syndrome. By the end of the3rd month after operation, patients from both groups were investigated by the term of Wexner’s scale for estimation of situations of fecal incontinence and on6questions concerning some subjective symptoms to evaluate defecation function, including how many times approximately do they defecate a day? If they suffer from urgency, obstructed defecation,tenesmus and altered continence? Whether or not are they able to discriminate bowel content.RESULTS:At the end of3th month, patients in treatment group defecate2.67±0.816times each day (range from1to4times), which is less than those,4.27±1.981times each day (range from1to8times), in control group.(P<0.05)Urgency differ between the treatment and control group,33.3%(5/15) and66.6%(10/15) respectively.(P<0.05) Patients in both groups,however, report similar situations in accordance with Waxner’s scores, obstructed defecation, tenesmus, discrimination of flatus, liquid and solid feces and fecal leaks.(P>0.05)CONCLUSIONS:The therapeutic means of acupuncture is able to decrease bowel frequency of patients experiencing anterior resection for rectal cancer, allow them to suffer less from urgency and improve the quality of life after operation.