Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 24 (2): 129-130, 2004
Electroacupuncture Treatment for 45 Cases of Postapoplectic
Dysphagia
Su Yongli 苏永立 Li Pei 李 沛 Zhao Gaofeng 赵高峰
Zhengzhou Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Henan Province 450007
By means of electroacupuncture, the authors have
treated 45 cases of postapoplectic dysphagia and
obtained satisfactory therapeutic effects. A report
follows.
Clinical Data
The total 45 cases were all from the inpatient and
outpatient departments of our hospital from 2000 to
2002. Among them, there were 35 men and 10
women, ranging in age from 40 to 72 years with 62
years on average, and in illness course from 2
months to half a year (4.2 months on the average).
Having suffered from apoplexy, the patients had
symptoms of dysphagia, chocking during eating and
drinking, dyslalia and dull or vanished pharyngeal
reflex. All the cases were diagnosed with CT and
MRI as having cerebral infarction or cerebral
hemorrhage.
Therapeutic Method
Point selection: bilateral Fengchi (GB 20), bilateral
Renying (ST 9), bilateral Hegu (LI 4), bilateral
Fenglong (ST 40), bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP 6), and
Yamen (GV 15).
The patient was asked to take a sitting position, and
the filiform needles of 1.5-2 cun in length were
swiftly inserted respectively into Yamen and Fengchi
to a depth of 1.5 cun. After Deqi, the needles were
twirled quickly in a small amplitude for 2 minutes
before the needles were withdrawn. After that the
patient was asked to take a supine position, and the
filiform needles of 1.5 cun in length were inserted
into Renying and Sanyinjiao. Similar acupuncture
129
manipulation was performed except that the needle
tip was made to point upward so that the patient
could feel an up-traveling needle sensation. The
needles were then connected to a G6805-A electric
stimulator with continuous waves. For Hegu and
Fenglong, the conventional lifting, thrusting and
twirling method was practised; after arrival of qi, the
needles were retained for 30 minutes. The treatment
was given once a day, with 10 sessions constituting a
therapeutic course, and a 3-day interval between
courses. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after
2 courses.
Criteria for Therapeutic Effects
Cured: Disappearance of dysphagia, chocking during
eating and drinking, dyslalia and other symptoms.
Improved: Basic recovery of normal swallowing
function, but still with slight chocking or hoarseness.
Failed: No obvious improvement in symptoms after
treatment.
Results of Treatment
As a result, 29 cases were cured, 11 cases improved,
and 5 cases failed, with a total effective rate of
88.8%.
Case Example
A 54-year-old man had a sudden numbness in the
four limbs complicated with dizziness, slurred
speech and dysphagia on April 16, 2002. In the First
Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, he was
diagnosed as having bulbar infarction by MRI, and
was then immediately admitted. After 2 months of
130 Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 24 (2): 129-130, 2004

treatment by thrombolytic therapy, reducing the With the stomach tube removed, the patient was
intracranial pressure, expanding the blood vessels discharged from the hospital.
and by nasal feeding, the symptoms were alleviated
but there still existed dysphagia that made it very Discussion
hard for him to eat and drink. Though in
Postapoplectic dysphagia is a common but refractory
consciousness, the patient had an extremely low
disease in the internal department of neurology.
spirit, chocking and hoarseness. Still wearing a nasal
Because of dysphagia and choking during drinking
feeding tube, he was found with vanished maxillary
and eating, it is very easy for the patient to suffer
and pharyngeal reflex, hypoalgesia, abnormal gait,
from serious malnutrition due to inhalation
and bilateral Babinski’s sign (+). In the treatment,
pneumonia and long-term inadequate intake of food,
2-cun filiform needles were selected and inserted
leading to increased mortality and reduction in life
swiftly into Yamen and Fengchi to a depth of 1.5 cun.
quality. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the
The needle was swiftly twirled in small amplitude,
disease is mainly caused by deficiency of qi and
and manipulated for 2 minutes after arrival of qi.
blood and imbalance between yin and yang in the
Then, the patient was asked to take a supine position,
heart, liver and kidney, or by long-term depression,
and 1.5 cun filiform needles were rapidly inserted
anger, and crapulence, leading to hypofunction of the
into Renying and Sanyinjiao with the same
internal organs, abnormal transport of water, internal
manipulation but the needle tip was made to point
generation of phlegm, obstruction of the channels,
upward so as to direct the needling sensation
stagnation of qi and blood, and failure of the
traveling upward. Then the needles in the two points
nutrients to nourish the brain. The therapeutic
were connected to a G6805-A electric stimulator
method mentioned in this article can strengthen the
with continuous waves. When Hegu and Fenglong
spleen, remove dampness, resolve phlegm, clear the
were needled, the conventional lifting, thrusting and
channels, induce resuscitation, regulate functions of
twirling method was practised after arrival of qi. All
the internal organs, relieve cerebrovascular spasm,
the needles were retained for a period of 30 minutes
increase blood flow in the brain, alleviate cerebral
at the above-mentioned points. After 3 treatments,
edema and enhance anoxic tolerance of the cerebral
chocking was greatly alleviated, and the patient
cells, hence ensuring a successful treatment.
could take semiliquid diet. Another week of
treatment resulted in disappearance of the symptoms. (Translated by Duan Shumin 段树民)