Electrical stimulation at an ankle acupuncture point reduced postoperative bladder spasms and improved urinary recovery after laser prostate surgery without increasing adverse events.
Researchers retrospectively reviewed medical records from patients who underwent laser surgery through the urethra for prostate enlargement over a three-year period. They compared patients who received transcutaneous electrical stimulation at the Sanyinjiao acupuncture point with those who did not, assessing bladder spasm symptoms, pain, use of antispasmodic medication, prostate symptoms, bladder function, urinary function, and adverse events after treatment.
Patients receiving electrical acupoint stimulation experienced shorter and less frequent bladder spasms, lower pain scores, and reduced need for antispasmodic medication shortly after surgery. At one month, they also showed better prostate-related symptoms, bladder condition, urine flow, residual urine clearance, continence, and ability to urinate than patients without stimulation, while adverse events were similar between groups.
