Uso da acupuntura no tratamento de sequelas neurológicas após parada cardiorespiratória em cão: relato de caso

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA), is characterized by the abrupt interruption of blood circulation and ventilation, leading to cerebral ischemia and neurological damage due to the lack of oxygenation. Signs such as ataxia, hemiparesis, head pressing, and seizures may appear post-CPA, requiring immediate intervention to minimize neurological damage and improve the animal's prognosis. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach to treatment is necessary, including pharmacological therapy combined with integrative medicine, such as acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient technique, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, aimed at stimulating specific points on the body with needles to restore the individual's homeostasis. This stimulation of peripheral nerves can restore neurological dysfunctions, as it works by improving blood circulation and reducing free radicals, helping to reduce the patient's neurological symptoms. Thus, the objective was to report the case of a 16-year-old, 16 kg, mixed-breed female canine, treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Paraíba, whose main complaint was that the animal suffered CPA during a surgical procedure, and in the postoperative period, it showed neurological alterations. After the clinical examination, the animal presented ataxia, vocalization, limb hyperreflexia, miosis, and absence of menace reflexes. As a result, outpatient and home treatment were prescribed, and the animal was referred to the Acupuncture department, where it underwent 10 weekly sessions aimed at reducing neurological sequelae, with symptom improvement progressively starting from the second session. After the sixth session, the signs of ataxia, vocalization, and hyperreflexia ceased; however, the patient had a decrease in visual acuity, leading to a modification in the acupuncture protocol to nourish the eyes. At the end of the sessions, the animal showed clinical improvement in neurological signs and regained vision. Thus, the aim of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of stimulating specific acupuncture points in the treatment of neurological symptoms, highlighting Integrative Medicine, particularly acupuncture, as an excellent adjunctive alternative for treating neurological sequelae caused by CPA