Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for urinary retention after hysterectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of urinary retention after hysterectomy in women. METHODS: This research searched for 6 database documents, and the deadline is July 23, 2020. This study included a randomized controlled trial of women with urinary retention after hysterectomy. These randomized controlled trials compare acupuncture with bladder function training or other nonacupuncture treatments, and measure urodynamics, effectiveness (BR), and urinary tract infection rates (UIR). Four independent reviewers participated in data extraction and evaluation. Assess the risk of bias in each article, and conduct a meta-analysis according to the type of acupuncture. The result is expressed as a mean difference (MD) or relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The meta-analysis contains 12 studies. Most studies indicate low risk or unknown risk, but the GRADE scores of the combined results show low or moderate levels. After the combined analysis, we found that acupuncture versus bladder function exercise and other nonacupuncture therapies can significantly improve the values of post voided residual urine (PVR) (MD = −25.29; 95% CI [−30.45 to −20.73]), maximal cystometric capacity (MD = 39.54; 95% CI [10.30–68.78]), bladder capacity for first voiding desire (MD = −61.98; 95% CI [−90.69 to −33.26]) and maximal flow rate (MFR) (MD = 7.58; 95% CI [5.19–9.97]). And compared with the control group, acupuncture still has advantages in BR (RR = 1.36; 95% CI [1.18–1.56]) and UIR (RR = 0.22; 95% CI [0.08–0.82]). These heterogeneities have been resolved through subgroup analysis, and their main sources are related to different intervention times, the time to start the intervention, and different PVR requirements. CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence that acupuncture can increase the patient's MFR, BR, and UIR. However, acupuncture can effectively improve the PVR, maximal cystometric capacity, and bladder capacity for first voiding desire values of patients with urinary retention after hysterectomy. Although limited due to the quality and methodological limitations of the included studies, acupuncture can still be used as an effective and safe treatment for women with urinary retention after hysterectomy. REGISTRATION: The research has been registered and approved on the PROSPERO website. The registration number is CRD42019119238.