OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects between acupuncture based on syndrome differentiation and analgesic on abdominal postoperative pain.

METHODSOne hundred cases of abdominal postoperative pain were randomly divided into two groups, 50 cases in each one. In acupuncture group, the treatment was applied according to meridian differentiation and point selection on the affected meridian. Ashi points near to the incision as the main points and those closely connected with Zangfu functions were selected, such as Yanglingquan (GB 34), Taichong (LR 3) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. In medication group, muscular injection of Bucinnazine was administered. The severity of pain was evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe remarkably effective rate in acupuncture group was 60.0% (30/50), which was markedly better than that 28.0% (14/50) in medication group (P < 0.01). VAS scores in 30 min and 4 h after treatment as well as 24 h after operation in two groups were all reduced remarkably as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.01), indicating the satisfactory analgesia in treatment. VAS scores in acupuncture group were lower apparently than those in medication group in 30 min and 4 h after treatment (P < 0.01,P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has quick analgesia in treatment of abdominal postoperative pain, which is superior to muscular injection of Bucinnazine because of its advantages of long-term and significant efficacy.