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Effects of Daikenchuto, a Japanese Herb, on Intestinal Motility After Total Gastrectomy: a Prospective Randomized Trial

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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of daikenchuto (DKT), a commonly prescribed, traditional Japanese herbal medicine, on postoperative intestinal dysfunction after gastric cancer surgery.

Methods

Patients with gastric cancer scheduled for a total gastrectomy were randomly assigned before surgery to receive either no treatment (n = 40; control group) or DKT (7.5 g/day, t.i.d.) for 3 months (n = 41) postoperatively. We examined gastrointestinal motility, stool attributes, the quantity of bowel gas, the quality of life, and the incidence of postoperative ileus.

Results

During the hospital stay, significant differences were observed between the DKT group and controls in the number of stools per day (1.1 ± 0.6 vs 0.8 ± 0.4, respectively; P = 0.037) and stool consistencies (Bristol scale ratings were 3.7 ± 0.8 vs 3.1 ± 0.8, respectively; P = 0.041). The DKT group showed significant reductions in gas volume scores, calculated from abdominal radiographs, at 7 days, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. The groups did not show significant differences in quality of life scores (based on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale) or in the incidence of postoperative ileus.

Conclusion

DKT improved bowel movements, stool properties, and bowel gas. These results suggested that DKT promoted early postoperative bowel functions after total gastrectomy.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant-in-aid from Tsumura & Co., Tokyo, Japan.

Conflict of Interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest or financial ties that might have influenced the findings of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Japan Community Healthcare Organization, Osaka Hospital, 4-2-78 Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka, Japan

    Yusuke Akamaru

  2. Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2, E2, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Shuji Takiguchi, Masaki Mori & Yuichiro Doki

  3. Department of Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan

    Toshirou Nishida

  4. Department of Surgery, Osaka Police Hospital, 10-31 Kitayama-cho, Tennouji-ku, Osaka, Japan

    Toshirou Nishida & Takeshi Omori

  5. Depatrment of Surgery, Osaka General Medical Center, 3-1-56 Mandaihigashi, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Japan

    Kazuhiro Nishikawa

  6. Department of Surgery, Osaka Rosai Hospital, 1179-3 Nagasone-cho, Kita-ku, Sakai, Osaka, Japan

    Shoki Mikata

  7. Department of Surgery, Rinku General Medical Center, 2-23 Rinkuouraikita, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan

    Noriyuki Yamamura

  8. Department of Surgery, Kinan Hospital, 46-70 Shinjo-cho, Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan

    Satoru Miyazaki

  9. Department of Surgery, Otemae Hospital, 1-5-34 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan

    Hiroshi Noro

Authors
  1. Yusuke Akamaru
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  2. Tsuyoshi Takahashi
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  3. Toshirou Nishida
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  4. Takeshi Omori
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  5. Kazuhiro Nishikawa
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  6. Shoki Mikata
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  7. Noriyuki Yamamura
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  8. Satoru Miyazaki
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  9. Hiroshi Noro
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  10. Shuji Takiguchi
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  11. Masaki Mori
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  12. Yuichiro Doki
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tsuyoshi Takahashi.

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Akamaru, Y., Takahashi, T., Nishida, T. et al. Effects of Daikenchuto, a Japanese Herb, on Intestinal Motility After Total Gastrectomy: a Prospective Randomized Trial. J Gastrointest Surg 19, 467–472 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-014-2730-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-014-2730-y

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