Ultrasound Detection Acupuncture Needling Training: Description of the Method

Abstract

Acupuncture is unique to Chinese medicine and is widely used in practice. In order to avoid the complication of pneumothorax due to needle puncture of the lungs, we developed an ultrasound detection acupuncture (UDA) approach to measure the safe needle depth to improve patient safety. This study established a UDA training program and recruited trainees in our hospital to validate the effectiveness of the program. The trainees attended an eight-hour course, and practiced their skills using an acupuncture simulator model of GB21. Pre-and post-test data were analyzed. The level of satisfaction of the trainees was assessed by interview. In total, 16 trainees completed the course. Kendall's coefficient for the program was 0.82, and the average CVI was 0.98, showing good reliability and validity. Trainees exhibited significant improvement in terms of reduction of the incidence of pneumothorax after completing the course (P < 0.05), and the trainees were satisfied with the teaching of the ultrasound skill. Feedback from interviews showed that use of ultrasound to measure the safe needle depth may improve the mastery of acupuncture point GB21 and reduce the fear of causing pneumothorax.

Development and Evaluation of Inexpensive Ultrasound Using A-Mode and M-Mode Signals to Identify Lung Depth and Avoid Risk of Pneumothorax in Acupuncture

“…When acupuncture is performed at high-risk areas such as the skin above the lungs, ultrasound is used to detect the safe depth of the site before the appropriate-sized needles can be chosen. This can greatly reduce the risk of puncturing internal organs, improve patient safety, and increase the quality of treatment [15].…”

Prospects for the Development of Acupuncture Treatment Led by the Use of Ultrasound Imaging Devices

“…, 침 치료 효과 전달을 위한 신경 생리학적 기전 [3][4][5] , 침 시술부위의 물리적 변형 6,7) , 및 다양한 생물학적, 화학적 기전연구 16) , 안태석등이 보고한 늑골골절연구 17) , 박정욱 등이 보고한 교통사고후 급성요통 연구 등 18) 에서 임상적 효능 을 확인하였다고 보고 하였고, 김성하등은 총비골신경 마비에 서 초음파 유도하 도침치료 효과 19) [13][14][15] 초음파 유도하 약침(Ultrasound guided pharmacopuncture; 봉약침, 소염약침, 자하거약침 등) [16][17][18] 초음파 유도하 시술(Ultrasound guided stimulation; 도침, 등) 19,20) 10 https://doi.org/10.54461/JKMST.2021.…”