The Efficiency of Acupuncture Combined Intradermal Sterile Water Application in Acute Renal Colic

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the analgesic effect and tolerance profile of acupuncture combined with intradermal sterile water application versus intramuscular phloroglucinol in acute renal colic. In this study, we aimed primarily to test the efficacy of acupuncture combined with intradermal sterile water application as a rapid and effective treatment in severe renal colic. Participants will randomly divided into two groups. The first group received only intramuscular phloroglucinol, the second group received acupuncture and intradermal sterile water.The visual analog scale (VAS,ranging from 0 for no pain to 10 for maximum imaginable pain) was used to assess pain intensity at baseline and at 10, 20, 30, 45,and 60 minutes following the start of the treatment protocol. Possible treatment side effects were also recorded.

Inclusion criteria：We included all consecutive patients aged \>18 years and presenting to our medical center with uncomplicated acute renal colic. Renal colic was considered if the patient description of pain included sudden onset of symptoms; unilateral flank or lower abdomen pain; irradiation to the back, side, or groin region; urination problems, including urinating difficultly and/or an abnormally dark or red urine; and the absence of other obvious conditions explaining patient symptoms. Exclusion criteria:We excluded patients with complicated acute renal colic, defined by the presence of bilateral pain, fever, and/or decreased urine output (\<500 mL per day). Patients presenting with posttraumatic pain, those taking anticoagulant medications or with coagulation problems, those with skin afflictions (infections, hematoma, dermatosis) that would impair the use of certain acupuncture points, those unable to assess the degree of pain using the VAS, those who had received analgesics in the 6 hours prior to enrollment, those refusing or unable to give written consent, and pregnant women were also excluded from this study. All participants read and signed the informed consent form of the study, which was approved by the ethics committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.