Effect of acupuncture for general symptoms accompanied with hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report
10.3777/jjsam.58.213
- VernacularTitle:肝細胞癌に伴う愁訴に対する鍼灸治療の１症例
- Author:
Tasuku YAMAZAKI
;
Fumihiko FUKUDA
;
Tarou TAKEDA
;
Naoto ISHIZAKI
;
Yoshiharu YAMAMURA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
hepatocellular carcinoma;
palliative care;
acupuncture;
QOL
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
2008;58(2):213-220
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION:Acupuncture has been reported to be useful for both physical and psychological symptoms. Here we report a case who complained of various physical symptoms due to advanced hepatocellular carcinoma effectively cared for with acupuncture.
Case:A 64-year-old female complained of general fatigue, constipation, and pain in the lower back and leg during her hospitalization for leg edema due to advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the leg edema was improved by the administration of albumin, physical symptoms such as pain in the lower back and leg, constipation, or general fatigue remained.
We applied acupuncture with aiming at relaxing muscles (erector spinae, rectus femoris, right adductor) by a local needling approach, and to improve incomplete defecation by applying moxibustion at the acupoint on the abdomen.
METHOD:Faces Scale was used to evaluate general condition. Evaluation of the pain in the lower back and lower extremities were made with a Numerical Scale where 10 indicates the most painful, while 0 indicates no pain.
RESULT:Both general fatigue and pain in the lower extremities wererelieved after acupuncture treatments (FS for general condition improved from 3to 1, NS for pain decreased from 7 to 4). Also, the feeling of incomplete defecation disappeared.
