ABSTRACT
Objective To study the clinical curative effect of Tongqiao Huoxue decoction combined with edaravone and hyperbaric oxygen for treatment of delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP). Methods A prospective study was conducted. Forty-six patients with DEACMP admitted into Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang Medical College from January 2012 to January 2014 were randomly divided into observation group (23 cases) and control group (23 cases). The basic treatments of two groups were identical. Based on the basic treatments including hyperbaric oxygen and citicoline sodium injection etc, the observation group was treated with our-self made Tongqiao Huoxue decoction which could be modified in accord to the individual differentiation of syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine (the composition of decoction included Paeoniae Radix Rubra 15 g, Chuanxiong Rhizoma 15 g, Persicae Semen 15 g, Carthami Flos 15 g, Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens 3 pieces, Jujubae Fructus 2 pieces, Moschus 0.5 g, Allium Fistulosum 1 segment). The decoction was administered orally or by nasogastric gavage, one dosage everyday for 1 month, and in the mean time, edaravone intravenously drip 30 mg was given to the observation group twice a day for 14 days. The control group was given hyperbaric oxygen and other conventional treatment for 30 days. The clinical therapeutic effect and adverse reaction were observed after treatment for 30 days. The changes of intelligent level were detected by Hasegawa dementia scale (HDS), and the changes of latency of P300 were measured by electromyologram/evoked potential instrument in two groups before and after treatment. Results The total effective rate in observation group was significantly higher than that in control group [91.3% (21/23) vs. 65.2% (15/23), P < 0.01]. Elevation of creatinine occurred in 1 case, moderate increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) appeared in 1 case, and both of them were reduced to normal after treatment in observation group; no adverse reaction occurred in control group. The HDS scores were significantly higher 30 days after treatment than those before treatment in the two groups [control group:13.4±2.8 vs. 6.8±2.3, observation group:20.8±3.4 vs. 6.6±2.5, both P<0.05]. The latency of P300 after treatment was significantly lower in two groups than that before treatment [control group (ms): 355.7±25.7 vs. 385.5±27.8, observation group (ms): 337.3±24.6 vs. 386.8±25.4, both P < 0.05], the change in observation group being more significant [the HDS score: 20.8±3.4 vs. 13.4±2.8, the latency of P300 (ms): 337.3±24.6 vs. 355.7±25.7, both P<0.05]. Conclusion Tongqiao Huoxue decoction combined with edaravone and hyperbaric oxygen has favorable cognitive effect on patients with DEACMP, thus, it can be used extensively in clinic.