Abstract

Background & Object: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Traditional Korean medical therapy on gastric myoelectrical activity in patients with functional dyspepsia. Methods: 29 patients(male 10, female 19) were divided into two groups; Inpatient group(N=10, male 1, female 9) and outpatient group(N=19, male 9, female 10). 10 healthy people participated in this study as normal controls. Gastric motility was recorded and analyzed by electrogastrography(EGG) during fasting and postprandial periods. Hospital treatment included electroacupuncture on ST36, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. Outpatients were treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture. Inpatients underwent hospital treatment for two weeks, and after discharge they were treated as outpatients for six weeks. In inpatient group, EGG was recorded before and after hospital treatment and it was recorded at six weeks after discharge. In outpatient group, EGG was recorded before starting treatment and it was recorded once a every six weeks for twelve weeks. Results: There was no significant difference in EGG parameters between before and after therapy in outpatient group. In inpatient group, postprandial normal slow wave increased after hospital treatment(from $33.94{\pm}14.13$ to $62.63{\pm}20.18$, p<0.05) and postprandial tachygastria decreased(from $43.53{\pm}13.99$ to $28.30{\pm}16.63$, p<0.05) and arrhythmia decreased(from $20.35{\pm}15.91$ to $5.67{\pm}6.80$, p<0.05). Conclusions: Results suggest that hospital treatment through electroacupuncture on ST36, acupuncture, and herbal medicine is useful to improve gastric myoelectrical activity in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia.

Keywords

• functional dyspepsia;
• electrogastrography;
• ST36