[Study on effect of electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) on the uterotonic time in parturients of uterus inertia].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the therapeutic effect and applying value of Hegu (LI 4) for inertia of uterus. METHODS In three centers, 276 cases enrolled were randomly assigned to a western medicine group and an acupuncture and western medicine group. The western medicine group were treated with intravenous drip of oxytocin, and the acupuncture and western medicine group were treated with electroacupuncture at Hego (LI 4) and intravenous drip of oxytocin. Changes of inertia of uterus and duration and interval of uterine contraction were investigated in the two groups. RESULTS The total effective rate was 97.1% in the acupuncture group, and 70.3% in the western medicine group with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0. 01). There was a significant difference in the duration and the interval of uterine contraction between the two groups (P < 0.1, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Elecoroacupuncture at Hego (LI 4) can be adopted for treatment of dystocia due to abnormality of force of labor.