Severe heatstroke treated by combination of Chinese and western medicine: a case report and literature review / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Via the analysis of clinical effect of combined traditional Chinese and western medicine in treating severe heatstroke (HS), to explore the rescue therapeutic measures of combined Chinese and western medicine for HS. Methods A case of HS patient admitted to the Department of Emergency Intensive Care Unit (EICU) of Shuguang Hosipital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was treated with the combination of traditional Chinese and western medicine. The physical hypothermia with ice-blanket and ice-cap and supportive therapy were immediately given to the patient after admission; then the TCM prescription Siwei Xiangru decoction plus or minus was additionally given; the ingredients of the decoction were as follows elsholtziae 9 g, white lentil coat 15 g, poria cocos 20 g, rhizome atractylodis 15 g, tangerine peel 6 g, processed pinellia ternate 9 g, codonopsis 10 g, licorice 3 g, 1 dose, 2 times per day. The changes of HS patient's laboratory indexes, symptoms and signs were observed. Results After the combined treatment with traditional Chinese and western medicine, the respiratory rate of the patient was improved significantly, and the oxygenation was maintained at 0.99-1.00, no symptoms of fever, cough, sputum were seen. On the fourth day after treatment, the patient was transferred to local hospital, on the day of discharge, the patient had no fever or shortness of breath, urine volume and color were normal, and vital signs stable. Conclusions Effective continuous and controlled cooling is not only the main treatment measure in modern western medicine but also in TCM. Meanwhile, because 'heat must carry moisture, and heat often damage body fluid', it is necessary to observe the patient's dynamic changes of heat and damp evil. When clearing summer heat and damp evil, simultaneously, the measures of strengthening spleen and stomach, enhancing qi and nourishing fluid to prevent further consumption of the body fluid should be paid attention to.