Objective To investigate the application effect of external treatment method of Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste in the treatment of phlebitis.

Methods Using mannitol as an inflammatory agent, a phlebitis model was established by infusion into the ear marginal vein of rabbits. Successfully modeled rabbits were randomly divided into four subgroups for intervention, while the blank control group was routinely raised without any intervention. After the intervention, the improvement effect of Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste on mannitol-induced transfusion-induced phlebitis in rabbits was explored by observing the manifestations of phlebitis, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) levels.

Results The success rate was up to 90.0%. On the first day of treatment, there were 8 ineffective cases and 1 effective case in the saline group; 6 ineffective cases and 3 effective cases in the hirudoid group; 7 ineffective cases and 2 effective cases in the magnesium sulfate group; 7 ineffective cases and 2 effective cases in the Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group. There was no significant difference in the curative effect among the four groups (P=0.431). On the fourth day of treatment, there were 5 ineffective cases, 2 effective cases, and 2 markedly effective cases in the saline group; 1 effective case, 5 markedly effective cases, and 3 cured cases in the hirudoid group; 2 effective cases, 5 markedly effective cases, and 2 cured cases in the magnesium sulfate group; 2 effective cases, 4 markedly effective cases, and 3 cured cases in the Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group. On the fourth day of treatment, compared with the saline group, the curative effects of the hirudoid group (P=0.001), the magnesium sulfate group (P=0.020), and the Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group (P=0.003) were statistically significant. There was no significant difference in curative effect in the magnesium sulfate group and the Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group when compared with the hirudoid group (P>0.05); there was no significant difference in curative effect in the Hirudoid group and the Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group when compared with the magnesium sulfate group (P>0.05); there was no significant difference in curative effect in the hirudoid group and the magnesium sulfate group when compared with the Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group (P>0.05). The effective rate of the saline group was 11.1%, and the cure rate was 0%. The effective rate of the hirudoid group was 100.0%, and the cure rate was 33.3%. The effective rate of the magnesium sulfate group was 77.7%, and the cure rate was 44.4%. The effective rate of the Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group was 66.7%, and the cure rate was 22.2%. The drug effectiveness of the Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group, the hirudoid group, and the magnesium sulfate group was higher than that of the saline group (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, and VEGF-A in the four model subgroups were statistically significant compared with the blank control group (P < 0.05). The levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, and VEGF-A in the saline group showed significant difference from those in the hirudoid group, the magnesium sulfate group, and the Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group (P < 0.05). Compared with the hirudoid group, the differences in serum inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, and VEGF-A contents in the magnesium sulfate group and the Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The inflammatory factor levels in the blank control group were the lowest, while those in the normal saline group were the highest.

Conclusion Xingqi Huoxue Zhitong Paste group has an improving effect on mannitol-induced infusion phlebitis in rabbits, but its efficacy is inferior to that of the commonly used hirudoid ointment. Therefore, appropriate adjustments and improvements can be made to the drug formula to enhance its effectiveness.