Frequent ventricular extrasystole treated by needling neiguan (PC 6) plus oral administration of mexiletine--a report of 30 cases.

PURPOSE To observe the therapeutic effect of needling at Neiguan (PC 6) plus oral administration of mexiletine. METHODS 60 cases of frequent ventricular extrasystole were randomly divided into two groups: a treatment group, and a control group. In the control group, mexiletine was orally administered, and in the treatment group needling at bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) plus oral administration of mexiletine were given. 2 weeks of treatments constituted a therapeutic course. RESULTS Of the 30 cases in the treatment group, 23 cases were markedly effective, 5 cases improved, and 2 cases failed; while in the control group 16 cases were markedly effective, 8 cases improved, 4 cases failed, and 2 cases aggravated. The total effective rates of 90.3% and 80.0%, respectively in the treatment and control groups showed a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Needling at bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) may enhance the therapeutic effect for frequent ventricular extrasystole.