Effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) external application and herbal treatment on incision in elderly patients with diabetes after gastrectomy

Abstract

Objective To study the clinical curative effect of TCM external application nursing and herbal treatment on incision in elderly patients with diabetes after gastrectomy.Methods Totals of 54 elderly patients with diabetes after gastrectomy in our hospital from 2008-2012 were chosen and randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group,each with 27 cases.The control group received regular postoperative wound nursing while the experimental group received the same regular nursing combined with TCM external application and herbal treatment.Two groups' conditions of wound healing,level of microcirculation potential,TcPO2 and CRP were compared after one week's dressing.SCL-90 was also used to compare their mental status.Results After one week's dressing,the wound healing condition of the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group (Z =2.019,P ＜ 0.05).The level of microcirculation potential (2.57±0.16),TcPO2(35.2 ±4.3)mm Hg,ET-1 (42.5 ±15.3) pg/ml and CRP(11.8 ±2.3)mg/L of the experimental group was also better than that [microcirculation potential(1.94 ± 0.13),TcPO2 (29.2 ± 2.7) mm Hg,ET-1 (69.4 ± 17.3) pg/ml and CRP(11.8 ± 2.3) mg/L] of the control group,and the differences were statistically significant (t =15.879,6.140,6.052,10.174,respectively ; P ＜ 0.05).By the time of discharge,the score of interpersonal relationship,depression and anxiety was (1.68 ± 0.27),(1.44 ± 0.15) and (1.52±0.19) in the experimental group,and (2.04 ±0.25),(1.78 ±0.21) and (1.88 ±0.20) in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant (t =5.084,6.846,6.781,respectively;P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions TCM external application and herbal treatment,which can speed up healing of incision and improve patient's psychological condition,have a significant effect in incision nursing for elderly patients with diabetes after gastrectomy,thus is worthy of promotion. Key words: Diabetes; Gastrectomy; TCM external application; Herbal treatment; Elderly people