ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Tongqiao Huoxue decoction combined with swallowing function training on the advanced esophageal cancer(EC) complicated with dysphagia.

MethodsNinety-eight patients with advanced EC complicated with dysphagia were divided into group A (40 cases) and group B(58 cases) according to their willingness.All patients were treated with radiotherapy using linear accelerator.After one course of radiotherapy, group A was treated with swallowing function training, and group B was additionally treated with Tongqiao Huoxue decoction on the basis of group A.According to the standard of water drinking test of Watian Junfu, the clinical efficacy in two groups was evaluated.The traditional Chinese medicine symptom score, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score and quality of life(QOL-30) score were compared between two groups before and after 4 weeks of treatment.

ResultsAfter treatment, the total effective rate in group B(91.38%) was higher than that in group A (72.50%)(P < 0.05).The scores of anorexia, swallow obstruction and pain of traditional Chinese medicine symptoms in group B were lower than those in group A(P < 0.01), and the scores of KPS and QOL-30 in group B were higher than those in group A(P < 0.01).

ConclusionsTongqiao Huoxue decoction combined with swallowing function training can effectively improve the clinical efficacy, recovery of swallowing function, various traditional Chinese medicine symptoms and quality of life of patients with EC complicated with dysphagia.