Acupuncture reflexotherapy in the treatment of sensory urgency that persists after transurethral resection of the prostate: A preliminary report

• Published in: Neurourology and urodynamics Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 58 - 62
• Main Authors: Ricci, Luigi, Minardi, Daniele, Romoli, Marco, Galosi, Andrea B., Muzzonigro, Giovanni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 2004
• Subjects: acupuncture reflexotherapy; Acupuncture Therapy - economics; Acupuncture, Ear; Aged; benign prostatic hyperplasia; Drug Costs; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Health Care Costs; Humans; lower urinary tract symptoms; Male; Mandelic Acids - economics; Mandelic Acids - therapeutic use; Medical Records; Middle Aged; Parasympatholytics - economics; Parasympatholytics - therapeutic use; Reflexotherapy - economics; Sensation Disorders - etiology; Sensation Disorders - physiopathology; Sensation Disorders - therapy; sensory urgency; transurethral resection; Transurethral Resection of Prostate - adverse effects; Treatment Outcome; Urodynamics; Urologic Diseases - etiology; Urologic Diseases - physiopathology; Urologic Diseases - therapy
• ISSN: 0733-2467; 1520-6777
• DOI: 10.1002/nau.10105

Aims In this study, we wanted to evaluate whether acupuncture reflexotherapy is able to treat the sensory irritative components of LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) that persist after transurethral resection of the prostate. Methods We have evaluated 42 patients, randomly selected into three groups: 14 patients received placebo, 15 patients received oxybutynin, and 13 patient were treated with electrostimulation by acupuncture reflexotherapy. Results Before treatment, the mean maximum flow rate (Qmax) was 21.0 ± 3.2 mL/sec, the mean International Prostate Symptom Score (I‐PSS) score was 12.9 ± 4.2, the mean I‐PSS Quality of Life (IPSS QoL) score was 3.6 ± 1.2. At the first check‐up performed after 3 months, we could observe that the I‐PSS and QoL scores were 12.6 ± 4.3 and 3.8 ± 1.3 in the group who received placebo; the scores decreased to 11.1 ± 3.2 and to 3.1 ± 1.0, respectively, in the 15 patients treated with oxybutynin and decreased to 6.1 ± 2.6 and 1.3 ± 1.1, respectively, in the 13 patients who underwent acupuncture reflexotherapy. At 1‐year follow‐up, these parameters were practically similar. The voiding diaries allowed us to deduce that the average number of daytime voidings decreased by 8% in patients who received oxybutynin and decreased by 20% in 13 patients who underwent reflexotherapy; the average number of nocturnal micturitions decreased by approximately 20% and 60%, respectively, in patients who received oxybutynin and reflexotherapy. Conclusions This study has pointed out that acupuncture reflexotherapy has a real benefit in patients with sensory urgency that persists after transurethral resection of the prostate. Neurourol. Urodynam. 23:58–62, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.