[Effects of rikkunshito on the postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic gynecological surgery].
BACKGROUND
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of unignorable complications after general anesthesia. The aim of this study was to examine prophylactic effects of TSUMURA rikkunshito (TJ-43), a herbal medicine consisting of eight herbs, on PONV after laparoscopic surgery.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-two female patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery (ASA-PS1-2) were randomly allocated to one of two groups receiving rikkunshito (n = 91) and control (n = 51). The oral administration of 2.5 g of TJ-43 was commenced the night before surgery and was continued for 3 days after surgery. The suppository form containing 1.5 g of TJ-43 was used during surgery.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences of the incidence of PONV between the two groups. The patterns of change in the degree of PONV were similar between the two groups, although TJ-43 group showed slightly earlier reduction in symptom scores. The patients with TJ-43 showed earlier postoperative recovery of oral meal intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative administration of TJ-43 showed a possible effectiveness to reduce the severity of PONV and to promote earlier recovery of oral meal intake after gynecological laparoscopic surgery.
Okuno
Satoko
S
Department of Anesthesiology, Nissay Hospital, Osaka 550-0012.
Hirayama
Kayoko
K
Inoue
Junichi
J
Yamasaki
Kyoko
K
Kawahara
Ryoko
R
Yokoi
Takeshi
T
Saeki
Noriatsu
N
Funato
Takao
T
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013488:Suppositories; D055815:Young Adult
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013488:Suppositories; C084136:liu-jun-zi-tang