Effects of Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine on Arterial Oxygen Saturation in Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the effects of treatment of integrative Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM) on arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Methods:The non-randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 447 SARS patients treated synchronously with western conventional treatment (WM group, n = 171) alone and ICWM (ICWM group, n = 276). The changes of the cases with normal level (≥95% ) or abnormal level (<95% ) SaO2 were observed dynamically. Results: In the 3rd-14th day of the therapeutic course, the percentage of patients with normal SaO2 in the ICWM group was higher than that in the WM group (OR = 0.5178, P = 0.0038), and this tendency was more evident in patients of the severe type (OR = 0. 18, P = 0. 0001). However, the statistical significance of difference was only shown in patients for whom the ICWM treatment started in the early period after the onset (≤7 days after it, OR = 0.3803, P = 0.006), but not shown in those who received ICWM treatment later in the mid-late period of SARS ( P>0. 05). Conclusion: ICWM treatment, particularly when it is used for intervention in the early stage, is beneficial for maintaining normal SaO2 in SARS patients.

Oxygenation target in acute respiratory distress syndrome

Determining oxygenation targets in acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)remains a challenge.Althoughoxygenation targets have been used since ARDS was first described,they have not been investigated in detail.However,recent retrospective and prospective trials have evaluated the optimal oxygenation threshold in patientsadmitted to the general intensive care unit.In view of the lack of prospective data,clinicians continue to relyon data from the few available trials to identify the optimal oxygenation strategy.Assessment of the cost-benefitratio of the fraction of inspired oxygen(FiO_(2))to the partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood(PaO_(2))is an additional challenge.A high FiO_(2) has been found to be responsible for respiratory failure and deaths innumerous animal models.Low and high PaO_(2) values have also been demonstrated to be potential risk factors inexperimental and clinical situations.The findings from this literature review suggest that PaO_(2) values rangingbetween 80 mmHg and 90 mmHg are acceptable in patients with ARDS.The costs of rescue maneuvers needed toreach these targets have been discussed.Several recent papers have highlighted the risk of disagreement betweenarterial oxygen saturation(SaO_(2))and peripheral oxygen saturation(SpO_(2))values.In order to avoid discrepanciesand hidden hypoxemia,SpO_(2) readings need to be compared with those of SaO_(2).Higher SpO_(2) values may beneeded to achieve the recommended PaO_(2) and SaO_(2) values.