Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of compound polymyxin B ointment combined with traditional Chinese medicine sitz bath on wound healing and serum epidermal growth factor (EGF) expression in the elderly patients with perianal abscess after operation. Methods A total of 78 elderly patients with perianal abscess in our hospital were selected. The patients were randomly divided into the experimental group (n=40) and the control group (n=38) using single-blind random number table. All the patients took the hospital-made traditional Chinese medicine package sitz bath on the first day after surgery, 15-20 min/time, twice per day. After sitz bath, the patients in the experimental group were given compound polymyxin B ointment applications additionally. After 7 days of treatment, the wound healing of the two groups was observed. The quality of life was evaluated by pain visual analogue scores (VAS), life quality scale (SF-36) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the level of serum EGF was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results After 7 days of treatment, the wound healing rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0. 05), and the wound edema rate was significantly reduced (P<0. 05); There was no significant difference in the incidence of anal fistula and wound bleeding (P>0. 05); The scores of VAS and PSQI in the experimental group were significantly lower (P<0. 01), and the SF-36 score and EGF level were significantly higher than those before treatment and those in the control group (P<0. 01). The wound healing rate of the experimental group and the control group was 40% and 26% respectively on the 10th day (P<0. 05). Conclusions Compound polymyxin B ointment combined with traditional Chinese medicine sitz bath has a good clinical effect on wound healing in the elderly patients with perianal abscess after surgery. It can relieve pain, improve quality of life and sleep status, and promote wound healing by increasing serum EGF level.

Key words: compound polymyxin B ointment, sitz bath, perianal abscess, wound, aged, epidermal growth factor