OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of different acupuncture depths of Lianquan (CV 23) for dysphagia after stroke.

METHODSTwo hundred and fifty-one patients with dysphagia after stroke were randomly divided into a deep acupuncture group (group A, 85 cases) a shallow acupuncture group (group B, 83 cases) and a glossopharyngeum acupuncture group (group C, 83 cases). Based on the conventional treatment, the glossopharyngeum acupuncture which was pricking without needles retained at lingual surface, posterior pharyngeal wall of the affected side, Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13) was used in the three groups. After the glossopharyngeum acupuncture, Lianquan (CV 23) was acupunctured 60-70 mm in the group A and 30-40 mm in the group B. The needles were all retained for 30 min. The treatment was applied once a day for 30 days in the three groups. Water swallowing test evaluation scale was observed before and after treatment, and the efficacy was assessed in the three groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 95.3% (81/85) in the group A, which was better than 85.5% (71/83) in the group B and 83.1% (69/83) in the group C (both P < 0.05). The water swallowing test scores were decreased apparently in the three groups (all P < 0.01), and scores in the group A were the most obvious decline (P < 0.01). The decrease of scores in the group A was more remarkable than those in the group B and the group C after two weeks of treatment (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Lianquan (CV 23) can effectively improve the dysphagia after stroke. The acupuncture depth can affect efficacy and the effect of deep acupuncture is better.