20 YEARS' ACUPUNCTURE IN 461 ACUTE APPENDICITIS CASES

Acupuncture is a safe and effective conservative treatment for acute appendicitis. 633 acute appendicitis cases were treated by acupuncture in this hospital during September 1958 to June 1961. The immediate effects were 62.4% cured, 31.3% improved and 6.3% results unavailable, total effective rate 93.7%. As of June 1980, 461 had been followed up and the long-term results were 179 (38.8%) retained their appendix, 272 (59.0%) had undergone appendectomy, of which 39 (8.5%) were due to acupuncture treatment failure, 227 (49.2%) to recurrence and 6 (1.3%) had appendectomy incidentally when operated upon for other abdominal diseases. 10 (2.2%) died of other diseases. Among 179 intact cases, 145 (81%) remained well without further recurrent symptoms after discharge, while 34 (19%) had recurrence without operation during follow up. 227 underwent appendectomy due to recurrence, 62.2% within 2 years and 81.9% within 5 years. Factors influencing long-term effect are analyzed.