Impact of rikkunshito, an herbal medicine, on delayed gastric emptying in profoundly handicapped patients.
OBJECTIVE
Rikkunshito is used to treat functional dyspepsia in adults. This study investigated the effects of rikkunshito on delayed gastric emptying in handicapped patients.


METHODS
A retrospective review was performed in nine profoundly handicapped patients (aged 1-19 years). All were diagnosed with delayed gastric emptying based on their half gastric emptying time (T(1/2)) over 90 min. Gastric emptying was evaluated after the ingestion of liquid meals using the (13)C-acetate breath test and the BreathID system. Participants were given rikkunshito [0.3 g/(kg day)] with the aim of accelerating gastric emptying. Parameters related to gastric emptying before and during rikkunshito administration were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Data were expressed as the median (range).


RESULTS
Emesis and hematemesis were relieved with rikkunshito administration in four symptomatic patients. The T(1/2) and T(lag) decreased significantly during rikkunshito administration from 115 min (94-167 min) to 107 min (64-66 min; p = 0.02), and from 60 min (42-90 min) to 47 min (29-59 min; p = 0.03), respectively. The gastric emptying coefficient did not show a significant change [3.1 (2.8-3.8) vs. 3.2 (2.6-4.0), p = 0.15)] with rikkunshito treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of rikkunshito resulted in symptomatic relief and improved gastric emptying in profoundly handicapped patients with delayed gastric emptying.
Kawahara
Hisayoshi
H
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, 840 Murodo-cho Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan. kawahara@mch.pref.osaka.jp
Mitani
Yasuyuki
Y
Nomura
Motonari
M
Nose
Keisuke
K
Yoneda
Akihiro
A
Hasegawa
Toshimichi
T
Kubota
Akio
A
Fukuzawa
Masahiro
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D054082:Lissencephaly / Q000150:complications; D020835:Medicine, Kampo; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
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