title: Daikenchuto stimulates colonic motility after laparoscopic-assisted colectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Paralytic ileus after laparoscopic-assisted surgery often occurs. We investigated whether daikenchuto (DKT), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, improves intestinal motility in patients undergoing laparoscopic-assisted colectomy for colon cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four patients who underwent colectomy at Iwate Medical University Hospital between October 2010 and March 2012 were randomized to either the DKT group (7.5 g/day, p.o.) or the control group (lactobacillus preparation, 3g/day, p.o.). Primary endpoints included time to first flatus, bowel movement, and tolerance of diet after extubation. Secondary endpoints were WBC count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, length of hospital stay, and postoperative ileus. Colonic transit time was measured using radiopaque markers and abdominal radiographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one patients (DKT, 26 vs. control, 25) were included in the per-protocol analysis. The DKT group had significantly faster time until first flatus (67.5 +/- 13.6h vs. 77.9 +/- 11.8h, P < 0.01) and bowel movement (82.9 +/- 17.8h vs. 99.5 +/- 18.9h, P < 0.01) and colonic transit time (91.9 +/- 19.8h vs. 115.2 +/- 12.8 h, P < 0.05). There were no significant intergroup differences in secondary endpoints and adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DKT accelerates colonic motility in patients undergoing laparoscopic-assisted colectomy for colon cancer.
authors.forename: Mizunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaegashi
authors.forename: Koki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itabashi
authors.forename: Toshimoto
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Kuniyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koeda
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D032106:Zanthoxylum; D030521:Zingiberaceae
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; C121414:dai-kenchu-to