[Heat-sensitive moxibustion combined with tropisetron hydrochloride for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion combined with tropisetron hydrochloride and tropisetron hydrochloride alone in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

METHODS

Sixty CINV patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group.The control group was treated with tropisetron hydrochloride. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, heat-sensitive acupoints were explored at Zhongwan (CV 12), Shenque (CV 8), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Shangwan (CV 13), Xiawan (CV 10), Jianli (CV 11) and bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6), Tianshu (ST 25), Liangmen (ST 21) areas in the observation group，and heat-sensitive moxibustion was applied at heat-sensitive acupoints. The treatment started from the day of chemotherapy in both groups, once a day for 7 days. The occurrence and severity of nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy were recorded after each treatment on the 1st to 7th days of chemotherapy in the two groups, the complete remission rate was evaluated. The KPS score, quality of life scale score before and after treatment and incidence of myelosuppression were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

On the 2nd to 4th days of chemotherapy, the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (<0.05), the complete remission rates of nausea and vomiting were higher than those in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, the KPS score in the observation group was higher than those before treatment and in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, the scores of emotional function and overall health status in the observation group were higher than those before treatment and in the control group (<0.05), the scores of fatigue, pain, insomnia, loss of appetite and diarrhea were lower than those before treatment and in the control group (<0.05). The incidence of myelosuppression in the observation group was 20.0% (6/30), which was lower than 46.7% (14/30) in the control group (<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Heat-sensitive moxibustion combined with tropisetron hydrochloride can effectively reduce nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy in patients with malignant tumor, improve the quality of life, relieve the myelosuppression caused by chemotherapy drugs.