Study on the distribution of TCM syndrome type in critical patients with diarrhea in Intensive Care Unit

Objective To study the distribution of TCM syndrome type in critical patients with diarrhea, so as to provide evidence for syndrome differentiation and treatment. Methods Critically ill patients with diarrhea in ICU from January 2012 to January 2013 were observed, and those who were in accordance with the inclusion criteria were included. The diarrhea patients' general information, APACHE Ⅱ score within the first 24 hours after admission, the diarrhea occurrence time, the duration of diarrhea, the relative factors in diarrhea, TCM syndrome type, dejecta RT and the prognosis were collected. Results A total of 70 patients with 44 male and 26 female were included in this study.The distribution of TCM syndrome types were as follow: the percentage of cold-syndrome associated with heat-syndrome was 58.6% with 41 cases, the yang deficiency of spleen and kidney was 22.8% with 16 cases, and the spleen stomach damp heat syndrome was 18.6% with 13 cases. 11 cases of the patients with yang deficiency of spleen and kidney were found with APACHE Ⅱ≥20 scores, occupying the highest ratio within the three syndrome types, about68.8%. The mortality rate of the yang deficiency of spleen and kidney type also topped in the three, with 9 cases, about56.2%. Conclusion This study shows that the most common TCM syndrome type in critically ill patients with diarrhea is cold-syndrome associated with heat-syndrome, which indicates that the treatment should include both reinforcing and discharging methods, and regulating cold and heat. The yang deficiency of spleen and kidney type may closely relate to a poorer prognosis and higher mortality rate than other types.