The effect of Rhubarb associated preparations on sepsis patients with acute gastrointestinal dysfunction:a Meta-analysis of randomized controlled study / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of Rhubarb associated preparations (rhubarb or prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine including rhubarb) on sepsis patients with acute gastrointestinal dysfunction (AGI).Methods The retrieval of databases from libraries including PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CNKI, CBMdisc, Wan Fang Database, VIP database were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about Rhubarb associated preparations for treatment of sepsis patients with AGI from the foundation of the various databases to March 2016. And in the mean time, the references of the studies accepted were also retrieved. The retrieving and screening of literatures were performed independently by two researchers, the methodological quality and data extraction of the enrolled literatures were assessed by Jadad scale, and Cochrane Collaboration 5.3 software was used to perform Meta analyses to observe the effects of rhubarb associated preparations on gastrointestinal function score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ) score and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients with AGI; the bias of published literatures was evaluated by funnel plot.Results ① Finally, 16 studies involving 1 171 patients (610 in rhubarb preparation group and 561 in the control group) were identified and enrolled. 12 studies had a Jadad score ≥ 3 and 4 studies < 3. The random method was used in classification of groups in all the studies in which the intergroup baseline data being comparable was clearly indicated. The blind method was applied in 5 contained RCTs.② The results of Meta-analyses showed that rhubarb associated preparation could improve gastrointestinal function score [mean difference (MD) = -0.52, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = -0.55 to -0.48, P < 0.000 01], reduce the APACHEⅡ score (MD = -3.66, 95%CI = -5.00 to -2.33,P < 0.000 01) and 28-day mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 0.46, 95%CI = 0.30 to 0.71,P < 0.000 01] compared with those in the control group, the differences being statistically significant. No publication bias was seen in 16 literatures containing RCTs from the funnel plot.Conclusions Compared with the control group, the rhubarb associated preparations combined with conventional theraph can significantly improve the gastrointestinal function score, reduce APACHE Ⅱ score and 28-day mortality of sepsis patients with AGI, which suggests the rhubarb associated preparations have better efficacy. In addition, the result of sensitivity analysis has not substantially changed the results of Meta-analysis.