Umeh B U
Acupunct Electrother Res. 1986;11(2):147-51. doi: 10.3727/036012986816359120.
Sacral acupuncture was used for pain relief during labour in 30 pregnant Nigerian women. It produced clinically adequate analgesia in 19 women (63.3%). 6 women in this group (31.6%) reported that they had experienced no pain whatsoever throughout the period of labour and delivery (average duration - 8 hours). 11 women (36.7%) had no pain relief and required pethidine injection when sacral acupuncture proved ineffective. 24 women (80%), including 5 who did not obtain relief, indicated their wish to have sacral acupuncture during their next confinement. 2 women (6.7%) objected to needling, 3 considered acupuncture useless while another 2 did not believe in it. The patients' cardio-respiratory functions and uterine contractions were not adversely affected. There were no untoward effects on the mothers or their neonates. The procedure was technically simple, the equipment light and cheap. The needles did not interfere with nursing or obstetric manouvres. The procedure was however time consuming. The results were inconsistent and unpredictable. Despite these limitations, the simplicity, cheapness and absence of physiological complications associated with the procedure, make it a worthwhile medical armament for pain relief in the Nigerian environment, with limited resources and specialized manpower.
对30名尼日利亚孕妇在分娩期间采用骶部针刺疗法缓解疼痛。19名女性（63.3%）获得了临床上足够的镇痛效果。该组中有6名女性（31.6%）报告称，在整个分娩期（平均时长8小时）她们完全没有感觉到疼痛。11名女性（36.7%）未获得疼痛缓解，在骶部针刺疗法无效时需要注射哌替啶。24名女性（80%），包括5名未获得缓解的女性，表示希望在下一次分娩时采用骶部针刺疗法。2名女性（6.7%）反对针刺，3名女性认为针刺无效，另有2名女性不相信针刺疗法。患者的心肺功能和子宫收缩未受到不利影响。对母亲及其新生儿均未产生不良影响。该操作在技术上简单，设备轻便且价格低廉。针具不干扰护理或产科操作。然而，该操作耗时较长。结果不一致且不可预测。尽管有这些局限性，但该操作的简单性、低成本以及不存在生理并发症，使其成为尼日利亚资源和专业人力有限环境下一种值得采用的缓解疼痛的医疗手段。
