Different methods of acupuncture for relief of pain due to liver cancer: A network meta-analysis

Table 1 Main characteristics of the selected articles

Ref.		Cases (observation group/control group)	Treatment measures	Control measures	Evaluating indicator
Zeng et al[18], 2014		30/30	Wrist ankle acupuncture	Three step analgesic ladder therapy	Degree of pain relief
Liu et al[18], 2010		51/51	Block acupuncture	Three step analgesic ladder therapy	Degree of pain relief/VAS score
Liu et al[18], 2007		30/30	Block acupuncture	Three step analgesic ladder therapy	Degree of pain relief/VAS score
Liu et al[21], 2008		51/51	Block acupuncture	Three step analgesic ladder therapy	Degree of pain relief/VAS score
Sun et al[22], 2021		80/60	Triple puncture and remaining needle acupuncture	Three step analgesic ladder therapy	Degree of pain relief
Hu et al[22], 2004	36/50		Wrist ankle acupuncture	Three step analgesic ladder therapy	Degree of pain relief
Hu et al[22], 2005	36/40		Wrist ankle acupuncture	Three step analgesic ladder therapy	Degree of pain relief
Cai et al[22], 2009	54/54		Tianyuam acupuncture	Three step analgesic ladder therapy	Degree of pain relief/VAS score

Table 2 Analgesic effect of different acupuncture methods based on network meta-analysis

Three-step analgesic ladder
0.71 (0.59, 0.85)	Triple puncture and remaining needle acupuncture
0.72 (0.54, 0.97)	1.02 (0.72, 1.44)	Tian Yuan acupuncture
1.00 (0.93, 1.08)	1.41 (1.16, 1.71)	1.38 (1.02, 1.87)	Wrist ankle acupuncture
0.95 (0.90, 1.01)	1.34 (1.11, 1.62)	1.32 (0.97, 1.78)	0.95 (0.87, 1.05)	Block acupuncture

Table 3 Probability ranking of interventions in different outcome indicators (SUCRA)

Treatment	SUCRA	PrBest	MeanRank
Three-step analgesic ladder	14.1	0.0	4.4
Triple puncture and remaining needle acupuncture	88.8	55.3	1.4
Tian Yuan acupuncture	84.4	44.7	1.6
Wrist ankle acupuncture	17.7	0.0	4.3
Block acupuncture	45.0	0.0	3.2