Research Progress on Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Postoperative Cough After Lung Cancer Surgery

Abstract

Postoperative cough following lung cancer surgery is a common and complex clinical symptom. Modern studies indicate its pathogenesis involves multiple factors, including airway mucosal injury, abnormal neural reflexes, and immune-inflammatory responses. Western medical treatments primarily rely on neuromodulators and antitussives but face limitations in efficacy and potential adverse effects. In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) demonstrates comprehensive therapeutic advantages through compound formulations, acupuncture, acupoint application, and nebulized inhalation. These approaches regulate Qi and blood, resolve phlegm and dispel stasis, enhance pulmonary function, effectively alleviate cough symptoms, and improve patients' quality of life. Current research should prioritize mechanistic investigations of herbal medicine, advance large-sample evidence-based studies, and optimize the scientific standardization of integrated Chinese-Western medical treatment protocols.