Efficacy Evaluation of Clearing Heat and Removing Phlegm Acupoint Patch Therapy in the Treatment of Stroke-Associated Pneumonia

doi:10.16458/j.cnki.1007-0893.2025.03.015

Abstract：Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of clearing heat and removing phlegm acupoint patch therapy in the treatment of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP). Methods: A total of 102 SAP patients who visited Zhengzhou Central Hospital from March 2022 to March 2024 were selected and randomly divided into control group and observation group, with 51 cases in each group. The control group received conventional Western medical treatment, while the observation group received additional clearing heat and removing phlegm acupoint patch therapy. The efficacy and disappearance time of clinical symptoms were observed between the two groups. Additionally, the changes in traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores, inflammatory indicators [C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT)], neurological function [National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score], daily living ability [Modified Barthel Index (MBI) score], and pulmonary infection conditions [Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) score] were compared before and after treatment between the two groups. Results: The total effective rate of treatment in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The disappearance times of fever, cough, sputum production, and lung rales in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). After treatment, the TCM syndrome scores, NIHSS scores, CPIS scores, and LUS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, while the MBI score was higher, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). After treatment, the serum CRP and PCT levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Clearing heat and removing phlegm acupoint patch therapy for SAP has a definite clinical effect, which can significantly improve symptoms and pulmonary infection conditions, inhibit inflammation, increase oxygen supply, and promote recovery.