Adjuvant treatment for patients with gallstones: catgut embedding at acupoints

Gallstone disease, also known as cholelithiasis, is quite common in the general population.
More than 20% of patients with gallstones will have symptoms throughout their lives
.

In addition, gallstone disease is one of the most common causes of hospitalization among all gastrointestinal diseases

More than 20% of people with gallstones will have symptoms throughout their lives

Recently, gallbladder emptying disorder has been identified as an important factor in the pathological changes of gallstones
.

It occurs in the early stages of the gallstone process, and animal studies have shown that using prokinetics to improve gallbladder movement can significantly reduce cholesterol crystals

Gallbladder emptying disorder has been identified as an important factor in the pathological changes of gallstones

In the field of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is an effective way to treat gallstone diseases by improving the contractility of the gallbladder.
The details of its treatment have been included in the "Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gallstones by Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine"
.

Acupoint embedding (ACE), as a new acupoint stimulation therapy, is a clinical extension and development of traditional acupuncture.

Acupuncture is an effective method of gallstone disease by improving the treatment gallbladder force, its treatment details have been included in the "Integrative Medicine clinical practice guidelines for treatment of gallstones" in acupuncture

Materials and methods: From August 2018 to January 2019, 70 patients with gallstones in our hospital participated in this prospective clinical trial
.

All patients were randomly divided into ACE group (ACE+TUDCA treatment 8 weeks) and Sham group (Sham ACE+TUDCA treatment 8 weeks)

Materials and methods:

Results: A total of 63 patients with gallstones were included in the study, including 33 patients in the ACE group and 30 patients in the sham operation group
.

The empty volume (EV) and gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) after treatment in the ACE group were improved (P <0.

result:

Ultrasound picture
.

A, Ultrasound images of patients in the ACE group before treatment

Ultrasound picture

In summary, ACE treatment can improve gallbladder emptying more effectively, and the course of treatment is shorter
.

Therefore, ACE+TUDCA therapy may be a time-saving treatment for gallstones

ACE treatment can improve gallbladder emptying more effectively, and the course of treatment is shorter

Original: Duan J, Chen X, Wang Y, et al.
Acupoint Catgut Embedding as Adjunctive Therapy for Patients With Gallstones.
J Clin Gastroenterol.
2022;56(1):e77-e83.
doi:10.
1097/MCG.
0000000000001487

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