Electroacupuncture At Baliao Point for Patients with Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Secondary to Spinal Cord Injury

Objective: To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture involving the lumbosacral region for patients with Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction (NBD) secondary to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Materials and Methods: 10 cases received electroacupuncture therapy from February 2020 and February 2022. Patients were evaluated at baseline and week 4. The outcomes including Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction score (NBD score), mean anal canal resting pressure, mean maximum systolic pressure, initial sensory threshold and maximal sensory threshold during anorectal manometry. Adverse events were recorded. Results: 12 SCI patients were recruited in this trial. Significant differences between baseline and week 4 after treatment with respect to mean NBD score (14.62 vs. 7.06, P <0.001), mean maximum anal canal resting pressure (32.11 cmH2O vs. 50.94 cmH2O, P <0.001) , mean maximum systolic pressure (56.02 cmH2O vs. 71.33 cmH2O, P <0.001) , mean initial sensory threshold (49.08 ml vs. 33.29 ml, P <0.001) and mean maximal sensory threshold (220.84 ml vs. 179.21 ml, P <0.001), respectedly. No patients reported adverse events. Conclusions: Electroacupuncture is effective and safe for SCI patients with NBD.