Abstract

With acupuncture treatment becoming a widely used technique in medicine to control chronic pain, there have been increasing reports on its associated complications. Although pneumothorax is the most frequently reported, infectious complications may not be uncommon. However, retroperitoneal or intraabdominal abscess caused by acupuncture may be much more serious conditions than pneumothorax. We experienced a 67-year-old man presenting with retroperitoneal abscess developed from retroperitoneal haematoma after acupuncture. The patients were treated conservatively, and then abscess developed from the haematoma was successfully retreated with sono guide percutaneous drainage with antibiotic therapy. Application of better knowledge on anatomy by acupuncture practitioners will reduced serious complications associated with acupuncture.

Key words: Acupuncture, complications, retroperitoneal haemorrhage (haematoma), retroperitoneal abscess, percutaneous drainage.