Sheng Li, Haixia Ren, Yan Li, Huan Liu, Jiang Du, Guangtai Cao
Department of Surgery II, East Hospital, Hebei Cangzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine, Cangzhou, Hebei, China
- Corresponding Author: Sheng Li; E-mail: lisf1975@163.com
Abstract
Background
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an external Traditional Chinese Medicine patch containing Mirabilite and Borneol for improving incision healing and preventing postoperative infection after appendectomy.
Methods
This prospective randomized controlled trial included 120 patients undergoing appendectomy for acute suppurative appendicitis were randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group. Both groups received routine postoperative intravenous antibiotics and sterile gauze dressing. The intervention group additionally received an external Traditional Chinese Medicine patch composed of Mirabilite (500 g) and Borneol (10 g), applied over the surgical incision once daily for 5–7 days. Primary outcome was surgical incision healing grade. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores, time to suture removal, swelling area relative to incision length, dressing change frequency, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, and serum inflammatory cytokine levels including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-8.
Results
The intervention group showed a significantly higher rate of Grade A healing (P < 0.001), and a higher rate of Grade B healing (P = 0.002). Postoperative VAS pain scores were significantly lower in the intervention group (P < 0.001). Time to suture removal, swelling-to-incision length ratio, dressing change frequency, and hospital stay were all significantly reduced in the intervention group (P < 0.001). The incidences of incision infection and abdominal abscess were significantly lower in the intervention group (P = 0.019 and P = 0.036, respectively). Although serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β and IL-8 increased postoperatively in both groups, the magnitudes of increase were significantly smaller in the intervention group (P < 0.001).
Conclusions
External application of a Traditional Chinese Medicine patch containing Mirabilite and Borneol significantly improves postoperative wound healing and reduces infection-related complications following appendectomy for acute suppurative appendicitis. The therapeutic effects may be associated with modulation of the postoperative inflammatory response.
Keywords: appendicitis, appendectomy, incision infection, Traditional Chinese Medicine, patch therapy, Mirabilite, Borneol