A clinical study on therapeutic effects of rhubarb on critical posttraumatic sepsis

Objective To study the blocking effects of rhubarb on the pathophysiological mechanisms of sepsis after trauma. Methods A total of 178 traumatic patients were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups, septic group and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) group. These two groups were respectively further divided into two subgroups, rhubarb treatment group and control group. An observation was carried out on the effect of rhubarb on gastrointestinal dysfunction, levels of endotoxin and TNF-α in serum and MODS. Results Among 178 traumatic patients, developed gastrointestinal dysfunction, of which 62 cases 58 cases were complicated by MODS. Whereas only 20 cases out of 116 patients with normal gastrointestinal function developed to MODS. The levels of endotoxin and TNF-α in serum in traumatic patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction were obviously higher than that in patients with normal gut function before rhubarb treatment (P 0.01). Rhubarb could evidently reduce the levels of endotoxin and TNF-α in serum in both groups (P 0.01). In addition, compared with control group rhubarb had a good curative effect on MODS in patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction with a significant difference (P 0.05). Conclusions Gastrointestinal dysfunction has a significant effect on sepsis and MODS after trauma. Rhubarb can relieve gastrointestinal dysfunction, block the pathophysiological response induced by the gut failure in septic patients after trauma and may have a good preventive and curative effect on MODS.