Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation at the Sanyinjiao Point on Preventing Bladder Spasm after Transurethral Laser Prostatectomy.

Abstract

Background: Bladder spasm is a common complication after transurethral laser prostatectomy. Herein, we aimed to assess the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) at the Sanyinjiao point on relieving bladder spasm after transurethral laser prostatectomy.

Methods: The medical data of patients undergoing transurethral laser prostatectomy were retrospectively collected from May 2021 to May 2024. Patients were divided into treatment (with TEAS at the Sanyinjiao point) and control (without TEAS at the Sanyinjiao point) groups. Basic characteristics, postoperative spasticity, prostate function, bladder function, urinary function and adverse events were compared between the groups.

Results: A total of 150 patients were enrolled and classified according to whether they were treated with TEAS at the Sanyinjiao point: 67 cases in the treatment group and 83 cases in the control group. After a 5-day treatment, postoperative spasticity was mitigated in the treatment group compared with the control group, as evidenced by decreases in postoperative bladder spasm duration, frequency of spasm, visual analogue scale score and use of drotaverine hydrochloride (p < 0.05). After a 1-month treatment, prostate, bladder and urinary function showed considerable improvement in the treatment group compared with the control group, as evidenced by a decrease in International Prostate Symptom Scale score, Patient Perception Of Bladder Condition score, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, residual urine volume, urinary incontinence and uroschesis and an increase in maximum urine flow rate (p < 0.05). No considerable difference in the incidence of adverse events was observed between groups (p = 0.174).

Conclusions: TEAS at the Sanyinjiao point effectively relieves bladder spasm after transurethral laser prostatectomy, with a reasonable degree of safety.