Effects of electroacupuncture on recent stroke inpatients with incomplete bladder emptying: a preliminary study

Abstract

Background

Incomplete bladder emptying (IBE) is defined as having a postvoid residual (PVR) urine volume greater than 100 mL for 2 consecutive days. IBE is common in stroke patients and could necessitate indwelling or intermittent catheterization. The condition is correlated with urinary tract infections, which could impede rehabilitation progress and increase medical costs. Treatment for patients with IBE includes bladder retraining, biofeedback, medication, and botulinum toxin injection, but none of these interventions are completely effective.

Methods

All patients with acute stroke who were admitted to the rehabilitation ward between August 2010 and April 2011 were included in the study and their PVR urine volume was checked. Electroacupuncture (EA; 1 Hz, 15 minutes) was performed on the acupoints Sanyinjiao (SP6), Ciliao (BL32), and Pangguangshu (BL28) of stroke patients with IBE for a total of ten treatments (five times a week for 2 weeks). Bladder diaries, which included the spontaneous voiding and PVR urine volumes, were recorded during the course of treatment.

Results

The presence of IBE was not related to sex, history of diabetes mellitus, stroke type (hemorrhagic or ischemic), or stroke location (P > 0.05). Among the 49 patients in the study, nine (18%) had IBE, and seven of the stroke patients with IBE were treated with EA. Increased spontaneous voiding volume and decreased PVR urine volume were noted after ten sessions of EA.

Conclusion

EA may have beneficial effects on stroke survivors with IBE, thereby making it a potential safe modality with which to improve urinary function.

Keywords:

• acupuncture
• electroacupuncture
• incomplete bladder emptying
• rehabilitation
• stroke
• urinary retention

Introduction

A high prevalence (44%–69%) of bladder dysfunction has been reported in stroke survivors; this includes urinary retention, incomplete bladder emptying (IBE), detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia, and bladder hyperactivity.¹ Urinary retention may occur in approximately 29% of the stroke patients in rehabilitation wards.² Catheterization is commonly performed to manage episodes of acute urinary retention in stroke survivors. However, indwelling catheters may affect rehabilitation activity or daily living, lead to urinary infection, and interfere with the reestablishment of a normal voiding pattern.³ A significantly higher rate of urinary infection has been observed in individuals with IBE;⁴ thus, indwelling catheters should be removed as soon as possible. The incidence of IBE is initially 56% in stroke patients, but it decreases to 32% over time.⁴ The use of α-blockers may increase emptying, but side effects such as orthostatic hypotension may affect patient rehabilitation. Intermittent catheterization is another option for IBE management;⁵ this procedure, however, is dependent on patient ability and family support.

Several studies on stroke survivors have suggested that acupuncture therapy provides significant benefits for stroke patients.^6–11 Animal experiments have demonstrated that electroacupuncture (EA) could improve the bladder emptying function.^12,13 Only a few high-quality studies have focused on this subject, and the lack of appropriate inclusion criteria or objective tools to assess the treatment effects of EA has been noted. One randomized trial demonstrated that the stimulation of acupuncture points could improve post-stroke urinary symptoms, but only moxibustion therapy was mentioned in their study.¹⁴ Thus, we devised this prospective study to explore the improvement of the bladder emptying function in post-stroke patients after EA treatment.

Materials and methods

Patients

From August 2010 to April 2011, patients who were transferred from the neurology or neurosurgery wards to the rehabilitation ward in the China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, were considered for inclusion if they were diagnosed with infarction or hemorrhagic stroke for the first time and did not suffer from an active urinary tract infection. During the study enrollment period, the patients continued to receive conventional therapy (diet treatment, hypoglycemic agents, insulin, and hypertensive agents). No major changes were made to the prescribed medication during the study.

The specific inclusion criterion at enrollment was the presence of IBE, which was defined as having a postvoid residual (PVR) urine volume greater than 100 mL for 2 consecutive days at the rehabilitation ward.¹⁵ Exclusion criteria included dermatitis over the acupuncture points and active urinary tract infection, as well as the prior use of anticholinergic drugs, cholinergic drugs, and α-blockers. All patients gave their informed consent, and the Institutional Review Board of the university approved the study.

Identification of acupuncture points

Three acupuncture points, namely Sanyinjiao (SP6), Ciliao (BL32), and Pangguangshu (BL28),¹⁶ were selected for the treatment of IBE according to traditional Chinese medicine theories. In this study, the acupuncture points were identified by an experienced licensed acupuncturist, and the three acupuncture points were marked for subsequent study by the same acupuncturist using “cun”. Cun is the unit of measurement used for locating acupuncture points. One cun is equal to the space between the distal interphalangeal joint and the proximal interphalangeal joint on the middle finger. SP6 is located 3 cun above the tip of the medial malleolus. BL32 is located in the second posterior sacral foramen which in the depression, midway between the posterior superior iliac spine and the spinous process of the second sacral vertebra. BL28 is located at the same level, 1.5 cun lateral to the median sacral crest (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Locations of acupuncture points based on the WHO standards for the Western Pacific region.¹⁶ Redrawn by Yu and Chou.

Abbreviation: WHO, World Health Organization.

Treatment procedures

The acupuncturist who had initially identified the acupuncture points likewise performed all the subsequent treatment procedures. Patients underwent treatment in a comfortable side-lying position. Prior to insertion of the acupuncture needle, the skin over the marked acupuncture point was cleaned with alcohol. Disposable acupuncture needles (Yuguang Industrial Co, Ltd, Taipei, Taiwan) (size #30; 0.28 mm in diameter) with a length of 1 inch (25.4 mm) or 1.5 inches (37 mm) were used for each patient. Six of the bilateral acupuncture points, specifically the pairs of SP6, BL32, and BL28, were connected to an electrostimulator (Ching Ming model-05B, Ching Ming Medical Device, Taipei, Taiwan) that produced biphasic square-shaped pulses at a low frequency (1 Hz, 3 mA to 60 mA) for 15 minutes. The treatment sessions were performed 5 days a week for 2 weeks.

Measurement of treatment outcomes

The basic clinical data of all patients were collected, including their age, sex, history of diabetes mellitus, stroke type, and stroke location. Bladder diaries were kept for each patient, which monitored parameters such as the spontaneous voiding and PVR urine volumes. These values were measured by a portable ultrasonic bladder scanner or by intermittent catheterization during the 10-day EA treatment.¹⁷

Effects of the EA treatment were presented in terms of the daily PVR urine ratio. This ratio was computed using the following equation: daily PVR urine ratio = (daily PVR urine volume/[daily PVR urine volume + spontaneous voiding volume]).

Statistical analyses

The arithmetic means of all values were used for the statistical methods in this study. All analyses were performed using the SPSS version 15 software (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY). The categorical variables were analyzed using the χ²-test and Fisher’s exact test. Comparisons of numerical variables between patient groups were performed using the independent t-test. Values with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

All patients with acute stroke who were admitted to the rehabilitation ward between August 2010 and April 2011 were included in this study. IBE occurred in 9 out of 49 patients (18%). The flow diagram of the study is shown in Figure 2. For EA treatment, 7 out of the 9 eligible patients were enrolled and completed the study; their data were included in the analysis. One patient with IBE refused to participate; another withdrew due to pneumonia and was transferred to the intensive care unit.

Figure 2 Flow diagram of the electroacupuncture clinical trial.

The baseline patient characteristics are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Overall, the study population had a mean age of 65.67 years, and the majority of the participants were male. No significant associations were observed between the presence of IBE and each of the following parameters: sex, history of diabetes mellitus, stroke type (hemorrhagic or ischemic), and stroke location (P > 0.05).

Table 1 Demographic information of IBE and non-IBE patients

	Number of patient		P value
	IBE (n = 9)	Non-IBE (n = 40)
Gender			>0.05
Male	6	23
Female	3	17
Age	65.67 ± 14.58	65.58 ± 11.11	>0.05
Diabetes mellitus			>0.05
Present	4	15
Absent	5	25
Stroke type			>0.05
Hemorrhage	5	16
Infarction	4	24
Stroke location			>0.05
Cerebrum	6	36
Cerebellum	2	1
Brain stem	1	3

Abbreviation: IBE, incomplete bladder emptying.

Table 2 Basic data of IBE patients who complete clinical trial

No	Sex	Age	Lesion location	Stroke type	Urodynamic study	Pre-treatment PVR (mL)	Posttreatment PVR*(mL)
1	M	82	Cerebral cortex	Hemorrhage	Areflexia	340	530
2	M	60	Occipital lobe	Infarction	Areflexia	100	40
3	M	59	Cerebellum	Hemorrhage	Weak detrusor contractility	400	230
4	M	90	Internal capsule	Infarction	Nil	200	40
5	F	69	Thalamus	Hemorrhage	Detrusor sphincter dyynergia	160	20
6	F	71	Cerebellum	Hemorrhage	Detrusor overactivity	300	75
7	M	40	Medulla	Infarction	Normal detrusor function	300	0

Note:

* Posttreatment PVR: data after 10-day treatment course of electroacupuncture.

Abbreviations: IBE, incomplete bladder emptying; PVR, postvoid residual.

The arithmetic means of the daily PVR urine ratio of all patients during the 10 day EA treatment are presented in Figure 3. The PVR urine ratio had the tendency to decrease as an effect of EA. IBE persisted in two of the patients after the EA treatment. A significant difference (P < 0.05) in the PVR urine volume of each patient was noted after the ten EA sessions.

Figure 3 Arithmetic mean of the daily PVR urine ratio of all patients during the 10-day EA treatment.

Note: PVR urine ratio = (daily PVR urine volume/[daily PVR urine volume + spontaneous voiding volume]).
Abbreviations: PVR, postvoid residual; EA, electroacupuncture.

Discussion

Effect of EA on urinary function

An increase in the spontaneous voiding volume and a decrease in the PVR urine volume were noted after the EA treatment. Thus, EA may have beneficial effects on stroke survivors with IBE and could be a safe modality for the improvement of urinary function.

Stroke and IBE

The two major and distinct functions of the bladder are urine storage and voiding. Burney et al reported that 28 out of 60 patients (47%) had urinary retention within 72 hours after stroke onset.¹⁸ This high incidence rate was not surprising because the present study was performed during the acute stroke stage. The detrusor function gradually improves with time after the patient’s condition has stabilized.^19,20 Kong and Young reported that urinary retention was present in 29% of patients at the subacute stage, which was observed after their admission to the rehabilitation ward within 4 weeks after stroke onset.²

In our study, 18% (9 out of 49) of the stroke patients who were admitted to our rehabilitation ward had IBE. After the ten EA sessions, IBE persisted in only 28% (2 out of 7) of the patients. In a previous study, Garrett found that 58% (28 out of 48) of stroke patients who were admitted to a rehabilitation ward had sustained IBE at the time of discharge.⁴ Another study on ischemic stroke patients showed that 17% of patients had sustained IBE at the time of discharge.² In the present study, all ischemic stroke patients could void without IBE after the 10-day treatment course of EA.

IBE management

For stroke survivors with urinary retention, catheterization is the most common treatment to relieve pain and distention. However, indwelling catheters may increase urinary tract infection rates or affect rehabilitation and daily living activities.³ Thus, indwelling catheters should be removed as soon as possible. Intermittent catheterization is an alternative solution that could improve the vesical defense mechanisms and decrease the incidence of bacteriuria.²¹ Moreover, intermittent catheterization could provide information on PVR urine. The actual determination of PVR urine volume after catheterization could aid in the prescription of a rational program for clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). However, a CIC program proves ineffective if the attendants and family members are unable to perform it. Other problems that were encountered with CIC included urethral trauma and occasional bladder stone formation.

The use of α-blockers may increase bladder emptying. However, the side effect of orthostatic hypotension may affect patient rehabilitation. The oral forms of these cholinergic agents have not been proven effective at levels that could be tolerated by patients.²² Thus, EA could be an alternative method in the management of IBE.

Possible mechanisms of urinary retention via acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture is a safe form of treatment,²³ and several studies have suggested its beneficial effects on the treatment of stroke survivors.^24,25 One study provided evidence that acupuncture may be clinically useful for improving bladder function in diabetics.²⁶ However, only a few high-quality studies have focused on IBE in stroke survivors. Moreover, the lack of appropriate inclusion criteria or objective tools to assess the treatment effects has been noted. Each acupuncture point has its distinct therapeutic actions. The acupuncture points used for EA treatment in this study, namely SP6, BL32, and BL28, improved the urinary function of patients.

Acupuncture could improve the voiding function by regulating the peripheral afferent nerve system. The locations of the two acupoints, BL28 and BL32, are similarly distributed along the S2–S4 dermatomes. The reflex voiding center lies at the S2 to S4 levels of the sacral spinal cord. BL28 and BL32 were stimulated by acupuncture to directly increase the excitability of the pelvic nerve, which consequently innervates the detrusor muscle. In addition, SP6 indirectly increases the excitability of the pelvic nerve.^27,28 The increased detrusor pressure was previously observed after acupuncture treatment in animal experiments.²⁸ The improvement in voiding function as an effect of acupuncture treatment has been proven by clinical studies.^26,28–30

Either the mechanical action of an acupuncture needle or electrical point stimulation could achieve the appropriate stimulation of these acupuncture points.³¹

Limitations of the study

The present study was only a preliminary study with several limitations. First, the small sample size limited the statistical power for subgroup analyses. Second, no patient follow-up was conducted for an extended time period to observe whether the effects of EA treatment are sustained. Finally, there was no randomized control group with which to compare the natural course of bladder function improvement. Control groups are very important for comparisons among patients and for the assessment of treatment modalities. The limited case numbers and ethical considerations required the use of the pre-treatment conditions of patients as the controls, which were subsequently compared with their posttreatment conditions. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm the findings of this preliminary study.

Conclusion

In our study, the effects of EA treatment on the subjective symptoms as well as the objective PVR urine conditions provided evidence that EA may be clinically useful in the management of post-stroke IBE. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm the findings of this study and to determine the sustainability of the effects of EA treatment.

Disclosure

Financial disclosure statements have been obtained, and no conflicts of interest have been reported by the authors or by any individuals in control of the content of this article. This study was supported by a grant from of the China Medical University Hospital (DMR-100-107) and supported in part by Taiwan Department of Health Clinical Trial and Research Center of Excellence (DOH101-TD-B-111-004).