OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of moxibustion combined with intermittent urethral catheterization on vesical function in the patient of neurogenic vesical dysfunction.

METHODSSeventy-six cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 38 cases in each group. The control group was treated with routine intermittent urethral catheterization and the observation group with the intermittent urethral catheterization and moxibustion on Guanyuan (CV 4), Mingmen (GV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. Changes of residual urine volume, white cell count and the balance state of the urinary bladder were selected as the indexes of therapeutic effect and the therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 97.4% in the observation group and 79.0% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05); after treatment, there were significant differences between the two groups in the residual urine volume, the bladder volume and the case numbers reaching to the functional balance state of bladder (all P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups in white cell count change (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion combined with intermittent urethral catheterization can significantly improve vesical function in the patient of neurogenic vesical dysfunction, reducing residual urine volume, increasing volume of bladder, promoting the balance state of vesical function, but it is basically same as intermittent urethral catheterization in prevention of urinary infection and therapeutic effect.