Inferior hypogastric plexus blockade versus acupuncture for the management of idiopathic chronic pelvic pain: A randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

To compare the clinical efficacies of inferior hypogastric plexus blockade and acupuncture in the management of idiopathic chronic pelvic pain (CPP).

METHODS:

The study included 117 patients with CPP. Group 1 included 62 patients who underwent inferior hypogastric plexus blockade and group 2 included 55 patients who underwent acupuncture. Pain level was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) immediately and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS:

The preprocedure VAS score was 7.6 ± 0.15 in group 1 and 7.7 ± 0.24 in group 2 (p > 0.05). Pelvic pain decreased significantly in both groups after treatment, with pretreatment and posttreatment scores of 7.6 ± 0.15 and 2.2 ± 0.88, respectively, in group 1 (p < 0.0001) and 7.7 ± 0.24 and 4.7 ± 0.11, respectively, in group 2 (p < 0.0001). However, the decrease in pain scores throughout the clinical follow-up was significantly more in group 1 than in group 2 (p< 0.0001). Complete disappearance of symptoms was achieved in 72.6% of patients in group 1 compared to 54.5% of patients in group 2 (p = 0.3737). Patients who did not benefit from the treatment were significantly more in group 2 than in group 1 (25.5% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.0294). No complications were reported in both groups.

CONCLUSION:

The study results showed that inferior hypogastric blockade had a 72.6% success rate and showed a significantly higher effect on reducing pain intensity in a short period of time in the management of CPP, compared to acupuncture.

• Authors: Magdy M Amin, Abdou S Ait-Allah, Ahmed El-Said A Ali, Rafat A Salem, Salah Roshdy Ahmed, Mohamed Akhatim Alsammani
• Journal: Biomedical journal (Biomed J) 2015 Jul-Aug Vol. 38 Issue 4 Pg. 317-22 ISSN: 2320-2890 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25673173 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Acupuncture Therapy
• Adult
• Chronic Pain (therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypogastric Plexus (physiopathology)
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement (methods)
• Pelvic Pain (therapy)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome