ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect of early enteral nutrition combined with thymosin alpha-1 (T-a1)on patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory failure.Methods:One hundred and thirty five patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were randomly divided into experimental A group (EN)(n =45),experimental B group (EN+T-a1)(n =45)and control group (n =45).In earlier period,experimental A group received Ruineng enteral nutrition,experimental B group received Ruineng enteral nutrition combined with intramuscular T-a1,whereas control group received general clinical therapy.The mechanical ventilation time,inflammatory index,nutritional index and T cell subset index were compared among three groups.Results:Compared to control group,nutritional index and T cell subset index in experimental A group were significantly higher while inflammatory index were lower (P ＜ 0.05),and mechanical ventilation time was shorter (P ＜ 0.05) after a week.Compared to experimental group A,nutritional and T cell subset index were significantly higher,inflammatory index were lower,and mechanical ventilation time was shorter (P ＜ 0.05) in experimental B group (P ＜ 0.05) after a week.Conclusion:Early enteral nutrition can shorten mechanical ventilation time,improve nutritional status,reduce inflammatory indicators,enhance immune function,and thereby improving clinical efficacy in patients with AECOPD combined with respiratory failure.Furthermore,early enteral nutrition combined with thymosinal treatment can improve clinical efficacy of AECOPD patients with respiratory failure.