 |
|
Moxibustion for Correction of Breech Presentation
A Randomized Controlled Trial
Francesco Cardini, MD;
Huang Weixin, MD
JAMA. 1998;280:1580-1584.
Context.— Traditional Chinese medicine uses moxibustion (burning herbs to stimulate acupuncture points) of acupoint BL 67 (Zhiyin, located beside the outer corner of the fifth toenail), to promote version of fetuses in breech presentation. Its effect may be through increasing fetal activity. However, no randomized controlled trial has evaluated the efficacy of this therapy.
Objective.— To evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion on acupoint BL 67 to increase fetal activity and correct breech presentation.
Design.— Randomized, controlled, open clinical trial.
Setting.— Outpatient departments of the Women's Hospital of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, and Jiujiang Women's and Children's Hospital in the People's Republic of China.
Patients.— Primigravidas in the 33rd week of gestation with normal pregnancy and an ultrasound diagnosis of breech presentation.
Interventions.— The 130 subjects randomized to the intervention group received stimulation of acupoint BL 67 by moxa (Japanese term for Artemisia vulgaris) rolls for 7 days, with treatment for an additional 7 days if the fetus persisted in the breech presentation. The 130 subjects randomized to the control group received routine care but no interventions for breech presentation. Subjects with persistent breech presentation after 2 weeks of treatment could undergo external cephalic version anytime between 35 weeks' gestation and delivery.
Main Outcome Measures.— Fetal movements counted by the mother during 1 hour each day for 1 week; number of cephalic presentations during the 35th week and at delivery.
Results.— The intervention group experienced a mean of 48.45 fetal movements vs 35.35 in the control group (P<.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] for difference, 10.56-15.60). During the 35th week of gestation, 98 (75.4%) of 130 fetuses in the intervention group were cephalic vs 62 (47.7%) of 130 fetuses in the control group (P<.001; relative risk [RR], 1.58; 95% CI, 1.29-1.94). Despite the fact that 24 subjects in the control group and 1 subject in the intervention group underwent external cephalic version, 98 (75.4%) of the 130 fetuses in the intervention group were cephalic at birth vs 81 (62.3%) of the 130 fetuses in the control group (P=.02; RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02-1.43).
Conclusion.— Among primigravidas with breech presentation during the 33rd week of gestation, moxibustion for 1 to 2 weeks increased fetal activity during the treatment period and cephalic presentation after the treatment period and at delivery.
From the Jiangxi Women's Hospital, Nanchang, People's Republic of China (Dr Weixin). Dr Cardini is in private practice in Verona, Italy.
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati
What's this?
RELATED LETTER
Moxibustion for Breech Presentation
, , , , , and
JAMA. ;282():1329-1330.
FULL TEXT
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Ethical Considerations for Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Clinical Trials: A Cross-cultural Perspective
Zaslawski
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2008;0:nen055v1-nen055.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Potential Physician Malpractice Liability Associated with Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies
Cohen and Eisenberg
ANN INTERN MED 2002;136:596-603.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Acupuncture
Vickers et al.
Qual Saf Health Care 2002;11:92-97.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Alternative treatments in reproductive medicine: much ado about nothing: `The fact that millions of people do not master arithmetic does not prove that two times two is anything else than four': W.F.Hermans
Renckens
Hum Reprod 2002;17:528-533.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Future of Integrative Medicine
Shang
Arch Intern Med 2001;161:613-614.
FULL TEXT
Editorial: Cardioprotective Effects of {omega}-3 Fatty Acids: A Critical Review That Should Be Read by a Wide Range of Health Professionals
Liepa
Nutr Clin Pract 2001;16:5-5.
Clinincal Observations: Nutrient Supplements in Clinical Care
Sardesai and Myers
Nutr Clin Pract 2001;16:35-45.
ABSTRACT
Association Between Method of Delivery and Maternal Rehospitalization
Lydon-Rochelle et al.
JAMA 2000;283:2411-2416.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Moxibustion for Breech Presentation
Wong et al.
JAMA 1999;282:1329-1330.
FULL TEXT
Alternative Medicine Meets Science
Fontanarosa and Lundberg
JAMA 1998;280:1618-1619.
FULL TEXT
|
