Acupuncture Therapy Combined With Breathing Training for Patients With Stroke Complicated

Acupuncture Therapy Combined With Breathing Training for Patients With Stroke Complicated With Pulmonary Infection: A Clinical Study

The goal of this prospective randomized controlled study is to explore the clinical efficacy of acupuncture therapy combined with breathing training in patients with stroke complicated with pulmonary infection. The intervention group and control group were treated with conventional drug therapy, rehabilitation therapy and breathing training for 2 consecutive weeks. On this basis, the intervention group additionally received acupuncture therapy. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of both groups.

To explore the clinical efficacy of acupuncture therapy combined with breathing training in patients with stroke complicated with pulmonary infection. Using a prospective randomized controlled study, 72 patients with pulmonary infection after stroke admitted to our hospital from May 2020 to May 2021 were randomly divided into the intervention group and control group, with 36 patients in each group. Both groups were treated with conventional drug therapy, rehabilitation therapy and breathing training for 2 consecutive weeks. On this basis, the intervention group additionally received acupuncture therapy. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) before and after treatment, time of fever relieving, time for the disappearance of cough, expectoration and moist rales in the lung, white blood cell count (WBC), serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level, calcitonin (PCT) level and pulmonary indexes were compared between the 2 groups, respectively, to evaluate clinical efficacy.

TCM acupuncture therapy: Zusanli, Quchi, Hegu, Taichong, Feishu and Fenglong were selected as the main acupoints, and the auxiliary acupoints were selected according to the symptoms, including Fengchi, Dazhui, Lieque, Tiantu, Shenshu, Zhongfu, etc.

Antibiotics were selected based on drug sensitivity test results. Patients with body temperature > 38.5℃ were treated with physical cooling and antipyretic drugs. In patients whose sputum was thick and difficult to cough up, nebulization and inhalation therapy was given, as well as effective coughing and patting the back to expel phlegm were guided.

Comprehensive training for hemiplegic limbs included a joint range of motion training, bridging exercise, turnover training, balance training, gait training, hand function training and self-care ability training, 40 min/d, 6 times/w.

Training was conducted daily in the morning, or after symptom relief in the case of fever or other discomforts, once a day, 30-40 min/time.

Improvement time for symptoms and signs of pulmonary infection：Time for the disappearance of expectoration

Improvement time for symptoms and signs of pulmonary infection：Time for the disappearance of moist rales

Before and after treatment, TCM syndrome scores were counted in the two groups. The main and secondary symptoms were classified into 4 levels, with scores of 0, 1, 2 and 3 based on the severity of the symptoms. The tongue coating and pulse pattern were scored into 2 levels, with no scored as 0 and yes as 1. The sum of various scores was calculated as the total score, with a score range of 0-36. The higher the score, the severer the condition.

Before and after treatment, the 2 groups were scored comprehensively based on the average range of 12-h body temperature, WBC range, amount and character of tracheal secretions, index of gas exchange, pulmonary infiltration shadow of X-ray chest film, and pathogenic bacteria in sputum culture. According to the severity, they were divided into 3 levels, with a score of 0, 1 and 2. The maximum score was 12. The higher the score, the severer the infection.

Efficacy evaluation:Number of patients with clinical efficacy（Cured，Effective，Remarkably effective，Invalid）

Efficacy was evaluated according to the Criteria of Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect of Diseases and Symptoms in Traditional Chinese Medicine . Cured: Clinical adverse symptoms such as cough, expectoration and chest tightness disappeared, inflammation was absorbed on X-ray or CT, and routine blood indexes were normal. Remarkably effective: Adverse symptoms such as cough, expectoration and chest tightness were improved significantly, and X-ray or CT and routine blood test results basically returned to normal. Effective: Clinical adverse symptoms such as cough, expectoration and chest tightness were relieved, and X-ray or CT and routine blood test results were improved partially. Invalid: Clinical adverse symptoms such as cough, expectoration and chest tightness had no changes or aggravated.

Inclusion Criteria: Meeting the diagnostic criteria of Western medicine for stroke complicated with pneumonia conforming to the TCM syndrome of vital qi deficiency and phlegm-heat obstructing the lung confirmed as the initial onset of stroke through CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clear consciousness, no cognitive impairment, and ability to cooperate with pulmonary function assessment and rehabilitation training willingness to participate in this study and sign the informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Patients with systemic multi-organ failure such as the heart, brain, kidney, etc patients with a coronary metal stent or pacemaker implantation patients with malignant tumors patients with severe cognitive impairment, depression or mental disorders patients with pulmonary infections before stroke or caused by other causes patients in the acute phase of infection

Acupuncture Therapy Combined with Breathing Training for Patients with Stroke Complicated with Pulmonary Infection: A Clinical Study