title: Effects of daikenchuto, a Japanese herb, on intestinal motility after total gastrectomy: a prospective randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DKT improved bowel movements, stool properties, and bowel gas. These results suggested that DKT promoted early postoperative bowel functions after total gastrectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Japan Community Healthcare Organization, Osaka Hospital, 4-2-78 Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akamaru
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Toshirou
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omori
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Shoki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mikata
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Noro
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takiguchi
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Doki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D032106:Zanthoxylum; D030521:Zingiberaceae
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D010936:Plant Extracts; C121414:dai-kenchu-to