Abstract
Here we described 2 cancer patients treated by acupuncture for abdominal pain as a complication of bowel obstruction. The patient 1, 43-year-old man was treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for rectal cancer. Two years after surgery, he complained of acute abdominal pain due to small bowel adhesion band. Bowel obstruction and symptoms were not improved by conservative therapy like as fasting, keeping Levin tube, and fluid therapy. 4 months later, he could eat a little rice water, but ileus and abdominal pain persisted despite of applying opiod drug and patch. Got started on acupuncture, electroacupuncture(ST-36) and moxa treatment, pain was relived gradually. He could stop opioids 1 month later and ileus was improved after acupuncture therapy for 2 months. The patient 2, 65-year-old woman got hepatectomy, cholecystectomy, and chemotherapy with cholangiocarcinoma. 6 months after surgery, she got laparotomy again for biopsy of new mass around ascending colon. She started eating after gas passing, but felt abdominal distension. Diffuse paralytic ileus was diagnosed by abdominal X-ray, and she got started conservative therapy. During ST-36 electroacupuncture therapy, symptoms like abdominal pain and distension were improved and could stop opiod patch. But eating aggravated ileus again and clinical finding of mechanical bowel obstruction was appeared. Based on these cases, acupuncture and moxa therapy could be helpful for improving abdominal pain and ileus, but possibility of malignant bowel obstruction should be considered especially in cancer patients.
