Wang Shu-Xin, Zeng Jing-Chun, Li Ting, Zhang Wan-Lan, Li Yan-Fang, Zhou Run-Jin, Liu Zi-Jun, Liu Yu-Ling, Zhuang Xun, Zhang Rui, Lu Li-Ming, Lin Guo-Hua
Department of Rehabilitation, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Integr Med Res. 2021 Sep;10(3):100724. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2021.100724. Epub 2021 Apr 20.
Postpartum subinvolution of the uterus is a more common condition after cesarean section. Auricular acupressure (AA) is widely used for the treatment of postpartum diseases. However, few studies have explored the effects of AA as a treatment of uterine involution following cesarean section to date. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of AA for uterine involution after cesarean section.
A total of 109 women who underwent cesarean section participated in this study. They were randomly allocated to either real AA or sham AA in a 1:1 ratio by a computer program. For 3 days, the real AA and sham AA groups received treatment 3 times daily. A series of assessments at 42 days after cesarean section, namely on the uterine size, the incidence of hydrometra, the first anal exsufflation time, bleeding volume at 6 hours, bleeding volume at 6-24 hours along with other general assessments were carried out.
A total of 89 women completed the study. The uterine size at 42 days after a cesarean section was 6.3 cm smaller in the real AA group than in the sham AA group ( < 0.01). The incidence of hydrometra on day 42 postpartum was lower in the real AA group than in the sham AA group ( < 0.01). The lochia duration and the first anal exsufflation time after cesarean section were shorter in the real AA group than in the sham AA group ( < 0.05).
AA improves uterine involution after cesarean section.
ChiCTR1800015569.
