Clinical Observation on 540 Cases of Gastroptosis Treated with Elongated Needle

　　
Abstract: Point penetration method by elongated needle and lifting manipulation were adopted to treat gastroptosis, getting marked effect. In this series of 540 cases, the cure rate was 40. 7 % and the total effective rate was 90. 7%. There was a close relationship between the therapeutic effect and the degree of gastroptosis, the cure rate of Iº gastroptosis was 77. 6%, while that of IIIº gastroptosis was only 11.8 %. There was a very significant difference between them (P<0. 05)

Follow-up survey: In this paper, follow up survey of 20 cases was carried out for two years. Fluoroscopy showed that the average levels of the inferior poles of the stomachs of 20 cases were 7. 45 cm and 3. 28 cm below the connected line of the iliac crests before and after treatment respectively. After one year, the average value was 4. 22 cm, and after two years, it was 4. 95 cm. Two years later the average level was still 2.5 cm higher than that of pretreatment.

Typical case:
 1.Miss Deng, 22 years old, a nurse. She felt abdominal distension and tenesmic sensation after meals, and whole body fatigue in l976. Examination; 172 cm in height, a weight of 55 kg, depression of the upper abdomen, but not touching the liver and spleen. In May 1978, it was found by fluoroscopy and roentgenogram of upper digestive tract that the inferior pole of stomach was 12 cm below the connected line of the iliac crests. It was diagnosed as IIIº gastroptosis. She was treated with elongated needle. After 5 treatment, abdominal distension after meal was alleviated, after l2 treatments, abdominal distension was felt occasionally, at the same time, belching and vague pain in the gastric region disappeared. After 18 treatments, the above symptoms all disappeared. And another 12 treatments were given continuously for consolidating therapeutic effect. She was treated for 30 sessions in all. Her appetite was increased after treatment, and she gained 5 kg in her body weight. Reexamination of fluoroscopy showed that the inferior pole of the stomach was 2cm below the connected line of the iliac crests. After treatment of 2,4,and 6 years, the reexamination of fluoroscopy showed that the inferior pole of the stomach maintained 1-2cm below the connected line of the iliac crests continuously.

2.Miss Lin, 20 years old, saleswoman. She felt abdominal distension and tenesmic sensation after meals, often belching, losing her appetite, weakness in whole body and usually diarrhea in 1987. She was treated with Chinese drugs for over one month, but the illness not responded to the treatment. Then she visited this hospital for acupuncture treatment on November 4 of 1988. Examination: pale complexion, deep and thready pulse, 154 cm in height, 39.5kg in body weight, leanness of body, depression of upper abdominal region, bulge of lower abdominal part, not touching the liver and spleen, but having splashing sound. Fluoroscopy on November 8,1988 showed that the inferior pole of the stomach was 9.5 cm below the connected line of the iliac crests. It was diagnosed as IIº gastroptosis. She was treated with elongated needle, once every other day. After 3 treatments, abdominal distension and tenesmic sensation after meals were alleviated, her appetite was increased. After 6 treatments, all subjective symptoms disappeared. Then another 4 treatments were given for consolidation of the therapeutic effect. Two months later her body weight was increased by 2 kg. Fluoroscopy showed that the inferior pole of the stomach was 4 cm below the connected line of the iliac crests. Reexamination of fluoroscopy after one year showed that the inferior pole of the stomach still maintained 4 cm below the connected line of the iliac crests.

Discussion:
 1. The clinical symptoms of gastroptosis are similar to the syndrome of deficiencies of the spleen and stomach, and sinking of qi of middle-jiao in traditional Chinese medicine. Adopting the lifting manipulation of elongated needle penetrating point method could regulate the function of the spleen and stomach, and play a role of invigorating qi and lifting sinking, therefore, the better effect was achieved. Of 540 cases in this series, the effective rate was 90.7%, among them, the cure rate was 47.6%.

2. It is shown in table 3 that the cure rate of Iº gastroptosis is 77.6%, while the cure rate of IIIº gastroptosis is 11.8%, there is an obviously significant difference between acupuncture effects of different degree of gastroptosis (P<0.001), the slighter the degree of gastroptosis, the better the acupuncture effect.

3. It is shown in table 4 that the course of disease is less than 2 years in 262 cases, of which 152 cases are cured, accounting for 58.02%;while the course of disease is more than 2 years in 278 cases, of which 136 cases are cured, accounting for 48.92%. There is no significant difference (P<0.05). It suggests that the therapeutic effect of gastroptosis is not very relative to the course of disease.

By Ge Shuhan, Ge Jikui