[Observation on therapeutic effects of acupoint injection of metoclopramide for postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effects of acupoint injection of metoclopramide for postsurgical gastroparesis syndrome (PGS). METHODS: A total of 46 patients with PGS(from abdominal surgery) were randomly divided into control and acupoint injection groups (n=23 in each group). Patients of the acupoint injection group were treated by injection of Metoclopramide (5 mg+ normal saline) into bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Weishu (BL 21) alternatively, while patients of the control group treated by injection of 10 mg of Metoclopramide into the deltoid muscle and gluteus maximus muscle alternatively. The treatment of both groups was conducted once daily for 14 days. A 3-point scale of clinical symptoms (abdominal distension, belching, nausea-vomiting, upper-abdominal distending pain, sour regurgitation and gastric burning sensation) was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between two groups in clinical symptom scores before the treatment (P>0.05). Following treatment, the clinical symptom scores of both groups were significantly decreased in comparison with pre-treatment (P<0.05) and the scores of the acupoint injection group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). Of the 23 PGS patients in the control group and acupoint injection group, 0 and 2 were cured, 5 and 10 were significantly improved, 10 and 9 were improved, 8 and 2 failed, with the effective rates being 65.22% and 91.30%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Acupoint injection of Metoclopramide is effective for improving clinical symptoms of PGS patients.