Effect of traditional Chinese medicine on intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome: A systematic review and Meta-analysis

Knowledge, attitude and practice related to intra-abdominal pressure measurement among intensive care unit nurses and determinant factors: A regional multicentre cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Intra-abdominal hypertension is a common serious complication in critically ill patients. Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurement is the only reliable method of detecting and managing IAP. Various factors influence the knowledge, attitude and practice of IAP measurement.

AIM

To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of IAP measurement among ICU nurses and to identify the factors affecting the knowledge, attitude and practice.

STUDY DESIGN

A multi-centre cross-sectional survey was conducted in 38 hospitals in Guangdong province, China, from March to June 2024.

RESULTS

A total of 1254 valid questionnaires were collected. The median scores of knowledge were 8.0, with an interquartile range of 7.0-8.0. The median scores of attitude were 23.0, with an interquartile range of 21.0-25.0. The median scores of practice were 41.0, with an interquartile range of 36.0-45.0. There was a positive and significant relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that ICU type (95%CI = -0.469 to -0.163, p = .000), education level (95%CI = 0.024-0.332, p = .024), monthly income (95%CI = 0.054-0.227, p = .002), attitude (95%CI = 0.038-0.090, p = .000) and practice (95%CI = 0.033-0.055, p = .000) independently affected the knowledge; age (95%CI = 0.068-0.815, p = .021), clinical instructor (95%CI = 0.145-0.822, p = .005), head nurse (95%CI = 0.006-1.409, p = .048), knowledge (95%CI = 0.174-0.411, p = .000) and practice (95%CI = 0.077-0.123, p = .000) independently affected the attitude; and age (95%CI = -0.956 to -0.031, p = .036), knowledge (95%CI = 0.871-1.416, p = .000) and attitude (95%CI = 0.446-0.702, p = .000) independently affected the practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the knowledge, attitude and practice of IAP measurement among ICU nurses are acceptable, there is still room for improvement in knowledge and practice. Nursing managers should strengthen management, provide more learning resources and training to meet nurses' needs about IAP measurement, so as to further improve the early recognition and management of increased IAP.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The data highlight the knowledge, attitude and practice and determinant factors of IAP measurement among ICU nurses and will help to make management protocols in the future. Nursing educators and administrators are recommended to provide guidance, training and support to further improve knowledge and practice of IAP measurement among the ICU nurses.

The application of mirabilite in traditional Chinese medicine and its chemical constituents, processing methods, pharmacology, toxicology and clinical research

Purpose: This study reviews the use of mirabilite in traditional Chinese medicine and various preparations by describing its chemical composition, processing methods, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical research progress. Methods: The applications and processing methods of mirabilite are searched in traditional and modern Chinese medical writings, and the articles on chemical composition, pharmacological effects, toxicology, and clinical studies of mirabilite and its combinations in PubMed and China Knowledge Network are reviewed, sorted, and analyzed. Results: The main chemical component of mirabilite is sodium sulfate decahydrate (Na2SO4·10H2O), followed by small amounts of sodium chloride, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and other inorganic salts. This study systematically organizes the history of the medicinal use of mirabilite in China for more than 2,000 years. This mineral has been used by nine Chinese ethnic groups (Han, Dai, Kazakh, Manchu, Mongolian, Tujia, Wei, Yi, and Tibetan) in a large number of prescription preparations. The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2020 edition) records stated that mirabilite can be used for abdominal distension, abdominal pain, constipation, intestinal carbuncle, external treatment of breast carbuncle, hemorrhoids, and other diseases. The traditional processing methods of mirabilite in China include refining, boiling, sautéing, filtration after hot water blistering, and firing. Since the Ming Dynasty, processing by radish has become the mainstream prepared method of mirabilite. Mirabilite can exhibit anti-inflammatory detumescence effects by inhibiting AMS, LPS, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and NO levels and attenuating the upregulation of TNF-α and NF-κB genes. It can promote cell proliferation and wound healing by increasing the production of cytokines TGFβ1 and VEGF-A and gastrointestinal motility by increasing the release of vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, and motilin. It can increase the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor and AKT phosphorylation in the liver by up-regulating bile acid synthesis genes; reduce TRB3 expression in the liver, FGF15 co-receptor KLB expression, and FGF15 production in the ileum, and JNK signal transduction; and increase the transcription of CYP7A1 to achieve a cholesterol-lowering effect. Mirabilite also has a variety of pharmacological effects, such as regulating intestinal flora, anti-muscle paralysis, anti-colon cancer, promoting water discharge, and analgesic. Only a few toxicological studies on mirabilite are available. External application of mirabilite can cause local skin to be flushed or itchy, and its oral administration is toxic to neuromuscular cells. The sulfur ions of its metabolites can also be toxic to the human body. At present, no pharmacokinetic study has been conducted on mirabilite as a single drug. This mineral has been widely used in the clinical treatment of inflammation, edema, wound healing, digestive system diseases, infusion extravasation, hemorrhoids, skin diseases, breast accumulation, muscle paralysis, intestinal preparation before microscopic examination, and other diseases and symptoms. Conclusion: Mirabilite has good application prospects in traditional Chinese medicine and ethnomedicine. In-depth research on its processing methods, active ingredients, quality control, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological and toxicological mechanisms, and standardized clinical application is needed. This paper provides a reference for the application and research of mirabilite in the future.

External application of mirabilite before surgery can reduce the inflammatory response and accelerate recovery in mild acute biliary pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

Mild acute biliary pancreatitis (MABP) is one of the most common diseases that require surgical treatment. Previous studies have focused on the timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for MABP. However, the impact of its inflammatory response process on the clinical outcome has been rarely reported. This study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative external application of mirabilite on the inflammatory response and clinical efficacy in MABP.

METHODS

Medical records of patients undergoing LC due to MABP from November 2017 to June 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Prior to surgery, the control group received the same baseline treatment measures as the study group. The difference was the addition of external application of mirabilite in the study group.

RESULTS

A total of 75 patients were included in the final analysis: 38 patients in the mirabilite group and 37 patients in the control group. Repeated-measures ANOVA (P < 0.01) showed that the white blood cell count (WBC) on the 3rd day of admission and the WBC and C-reactive protein (CRP) level on the 5th day of admission decreased rapidly and significantly in the mirabilite group, compared with the control group. The mirabilite group had earlier anal exhaust time. The number of patients in the mirabilite group and control group with gallbladder wall ≥ 3 mm before the operation was 16 (42.11%) vs. 24 (64.86%), p = 0.048, respectively; and the number of cases with surgical drain placement was 2 (5.26%) vs. 9 (24.32%), p = 0.020, respectively. The intraoperative modified American Fertility Society (mAFS) score of adhesions was lower in the mirabilite group (1.08 ± 0.59 points) than in the control group (1.92 ± 0.60 points), p = 0.000. The mirabilite group, compared to the control group, p = 0.000, had a short waiting time for surgery (5.68 ± 0.70 days vs. 6.54 ± 0.59 days), short operation time (38.03 ± 5.90 min vs. 48.51 ± 8.37 min), and reduced hospitalization time (8.95 ± 0.96 days vs. 9.84 ± 1.07 days).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that preoperative external application of mirabilite can reduce the inflammatory response, decrease the edema and peribiliary adhesions at the surgical site, and accelerate recovery in MABP.

External use of Mirabilite combined with Lactulose improves postoperative gastrointestinal mobility among older patients undergoing abdominal surgery

AIMS

To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of Mirabilite combined with Lactulose in older patients after abdominal surgery.

DESIGN

It is a retrospective observational cohort study with a pre and post intervention group.

METHODS

Medical records were retrospectively reviewed of postoperative Intensive Care patients with postoperative gastrointestinal tract dysfunction (aged >60 years) in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit from January 2017-December 2018.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-seven post-surgical Intensive Care patients with postoperative gastrointestinal tract dysfunction were analysed; 74 patients received Mirabilite + Lactulose treatment and 93 patients received Lactulose treatment. The recovery rate of bowel sounds was better in the Mirabilite + Lactulose group (62.16%) compared with the Lactulose group (37.63%) after 3-day treatment (p = 0.002) and the relative risk (RR) was 1.65 (95% CI, 1.20, 2.27). Moreover 70.27% patients in the Mirabilite + Lactulose group finally had flatus or defecation compared with 46.24% patients in Lactulose group (p = 0.003) and the RR was 1.52 (1.17, 1.98). The abdominal girth and Inter Abdominal Pressure in Mirabilite + Lactulose group showed significantly greater decrease over a 3-day period compared with Lactulose group (4.86 vs. 3.46 cm, p = 0.027; 4.80 vs. 3.11 mmHg, p = 0.002 respectively). The pain score had greater decrease from the baseline in Mirabilite + Lactulose group than in Lactulose group (2.40 vs. 1.11; p < 0.01). Patients in the Mirabilite + Lactulose group had shorter hospital stay than the Lactulose group 12.5 (SD 3.51) versus 13.9 (SD 5.14), p = 0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that external use of Mirabilite combined with Lactulose can be considered as an easy intervention to improve postoperative gastrointestinal mobility in older intensive care patients who suffer from postoperative gastrointestinal tract dysfunction after surgery.

IMPACT

Our results provide a great option to alleviate the sufferings of postoperative patients. The externally use Mirabilite is a painless and safe interventions that is easy to implement by ICU nurses.

Abdominal compartment syndrome due to extremely elongated sigmoid colon and rectum plus fecal impaction caused by disuse syndrome and diabetic neuropathy: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is defined as a sustained raised level of intra-abdominal pressure more than 20 mmHg with or without abdominal perfusion pressure less than 60 mmHg and the development of new end-organ failure. Abdominal surgery, major trauma, volvulus, ileus, distended abdomen, fecal impaction, acute pancreatitis, liver dysfunction, sepsis, shock, obesity, and age have all been reported as risk factors. Herein, we report the severest known case of ACS due to extremely elongated sigmoid colon and rectum plus fecal impaction caused by disuse syndrome and diabetic neuropathy, together with a brief review of the literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 48-year-old Asian man suffering from shock was transported by ambulance to our hospital. His medical history included hypoglycemic encephalopathy sequelae, disuse syndrome, type 2 diabetic neuropathy, and constipation. He recovered consciousness in the ambulance, and his physical examination as well as laboratory findings were normal. X-ray and dynamic computed tomography revealed a thickened gut wall, and an extremely dilated sigmoid colon and rectum filled with a massive amount of stool as well as gas, compressing other intra-abdominal organs. We diagnosed the patient with transient vasovagal syncope, together with ACS, due to extremely elongated sigmoid colon and rectum plus fecal impaction, caused by anorectal disturbance derived from disuse syndrome and diabetic neuropathy. We first repeated stool extraction for bowel decompression and he subsequently became symptom-free, after which we performed a colostomy on the 28th hospital day. The postoperative course was uncomplicated, and he was discharged on the 44th hospital day.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians need to keep ACS in mind as a differential diagnosis and perform careful and detailed examination when encountering patients presenting with symptoms or risk factors of ACS. In addition, they need to precisely diagnose ACS and perform optimal treatment without delay.