Clinical observation on therapeutic effect of Xiaoqinglong decoction for supplementary treatment of patients with ventilator associated pneumonia / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Xiaoqinglong decoction for supplementary treatment of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).Methods Thirty-three VAP patients with syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as interior retention of phlegm and exopathic cold admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from July 2011 to December 2014 were enrolled, and their historical data were retrospectively analyzed. According to the difference in treatment methods, the patients were divided into TCM treatment Xiaoqinglong decoction group (observation group, 18 cases) and general treatment group (control group, 15 cases). The patients in both groups were given conventional western medicine treatment, including anti-infection, phlegm elimination and cough relieve, protection of gastric mucosa and organ function, nutritional support, prevention of bedsore and thrombosis, etc. Additionally, the patients in TCM treatment group were given Xiaoqinglong decoction (drug composition herba ephedrae 15 g, ramulus cinnamomi 15 g, herba asari 15 g, rhizoma zingiberis 15 g, chinese peony 15 g, rhizoma pinelliae 15 g, fructus schisandrae 15 g, radix glycyrrhizae preparata 10 g) for nasal feeding, once 150 mL, twice a day, once every 7 days. The changes in body temperature were observed before and 3 days and 7 days after treatment, and peripheral blood was collected for determination of white blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level in the two groups. Comprehensive therapeutic effects of the patients in both groups were recorded.Results There were no significant differences in body temperature, WBC and CRP before treatment between the two groups. After treatment, the above parameters in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, and they showed a decrease tendency with time prolongation. The decrease in body temperature and WBC in observation group was more obvious than those of control group, and the comparisons showed statistical significant differences on 7 days after treatment [body temperature (℃) 36.5±0.6 vs. 37.0±0.8, WBC (×109/L)6.7±3.0 vs. 8.9±2.5, bothP 0.05). The total effective rate on the 7th day after treatment in observation group was higher than that of control group [83.3% (15/18) vs. 80.0% (12/15)], but no statistical significant difference was seen (P > 0.05).Conclusions The Xiaoqinglong decoction can reduce the inflammatory reaction of patients with VAP, and improve their symptoms.