Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

This protocol applies a standard operational demonstration of acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for the treatment of constipation in COPD patients. It is advisable for patients to watch the video demonstrations prior to performing the operation. To begin, prepare Rheum officinale Baill, and other surgical equipment and reagents.

Using an ultra micropulverizer, make 100 grams of Rheum officinale Baill into powder and package it in a plastic bag. Set it aside for later use. Before treatment, combine 15 grams of Rheum officinale Baill powder with 15 milliliters of normal saline to create a medicinal paste, and place it onto a curved plate.

Advise the patient to empty the bladder in advance. Then let them lie on their back, bend their knees, relax, and fully expose the abdomen. Close all doors and windows to ensure the patient's privacy and to prevent them from catching a cold.

Now select the Shenque and bilateral Tianzhu points on the patient's abdomen. Examine the skin around the designated points, ensuring it is free from lesions or damage while keeping the points clean and dry. Next, disinfect the hands and apply pressure to the patient's Shenque and bilateral Tianzhu points on the abdomen using the thumb fingertip.

Ensure to rotate the thumb in a clockwise direction. Gradually increase the pressure on the acupoints from weak to strong until the patient experiences a slight soreness. If the patient can't tolerate the pressure during the procedure, immediately cease the operation.

Now warm the palms through vigorous rubbing. Massage the patient's abdomen 50 times in a clockwise direction, starting from the navel and extending out to the outer circle, then back to the navel. Start slowly and gradually increase to a stable and moderate frequency of about 30 to 50 times per minute.

Wear medical rubber gloves and disinfect the patient's local acupoints using iodine volt swabs. From the medical bend plate, take roughly 3/4 of the prepared medicine and divide it into three equal parts. Mold these parts into a ring-like shape, and apply each onto separate medical gauzes.

Next, attach the medical gauze containing the medication to the patient's Shenque and Tianzhu points on the abdomen using medical tape. Instruct the patient to refrain from strenuous activity to prevent the drug from falling off or seeping out. Ensure to remove medical gauze after six hours.

Swiftly, remove any drug remnants from the patient's skin and assist them in dressing. The patient assessment of constipation symptoms score suggested that acupoint application combined with acupoint massage could significantly improve constipation symptoms. This method has the benefits of easy execution, noticeable healing outcomes, and minimal adverse effects.