Influence of Electroacupuncture on Acupoints of Yanglingquan (GB34) on Gallbladder Volume and Gallbladder Arterial Hemodynamics in Patients with Chronic Cholecystitis

Abstract

Introduction: In China, patients with chronic cholecystitis account for approximately 10% of the total population, in which over 90% of cholecystitis is caused by cholelithiasis. This study aimed to discuss the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture on the Yanglingquan acupoint promoting gallbladder contractibility of patients with chronic cholecystitis. Methods: 60 patients were randomly divided into a trial group and a control group. Doppler ultrasound and color Doppler blood flow imaging was applied. The trial group adopted the BT701-1B electroanesthesia apparatus to perform electroacupuncture on the bilateral acupoints of Yanglingquan, while electroacupuncture was made on sham acupoints in the control group. Results: Before the electroacupuncture, gallbladder volume was 49.6 ± 5.66 ml, after 15 min and 30 min of electroacupuncture, the gallbladder volume was then 32.9 ± 5.66 ml and 23.0 ± 2.83 ml respectively. The comparison before and after electroacupuncture was obviously and statistically different (P < 0.01). The comparison between after 15 min and 30 min is obviously statistically different (P < 0.01). Before the electroacupuncture, the gallbladder artery Vmax, Vmin, and RI were 18.4 ± 2.69 cm/s, 9.7 ± 0.07 cm/s, and 0.47 ± 0.06, respectively; the cystic artery Vmax, Vmin, and RI after 30 min were 8.1 ± 0.92 cm/s, 3.1 ± 0.57 cm/s, and 0.61 ± 0.02. The comparison in gallbladder artery Vmax and Vmin and the drag index (RI) before and after electroacupuncture was obviously and statistically different (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Electroacupuncture on the acupoints of Yanglingquan has the potential to promote the emptying of the gallbladder. The mechanism may be related to that the smooth muscle of the gallbladder contracts after electroacupuncture and the gallbladder empties.