epiglucan and Ileus

After hepatic resection, delayed flatus and impaired bowel movement often cause problematic postoperative ileus. Kampo medicine, Dai-kenchu-to (DKT), is reported to have a various beneficial effects on bowel systems. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate effects of DKT after hepatic resection.. Thirty-two patients who underwent hepatic resection between July 2007 and August 2008 in Tokushima University Hospital were prospectively divided into DKT group (n=16) and control group (n=16). In DKT group, 2.5 g of DKT was administered orally three times a day from postoperative day (POD) 1. Blood was examined on POD 1, 3, 5 and 7. Postoperative first flatus, bowel movement and full recovery of oral intake, hospital stays and complications were checked.. In DKT group, levels of c-reactive protein and beta-(1-3)-D-glucan on POD 3 were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Moreover, postoperative periods for the first flatus, bowel movement and the full recovery of oral intake were significantly shortened in DKT group (p<0.05).. DKT suppressed inflammatory reaction, stimulated bowel movement and improved oral intake after hepatic resection, which may decrease serious morbidity after hepatic resection.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Aged; beta-Glucans; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein; Chi-Square Distribution; Defecation; Drug Administration Schedule; Eating; Female; Flatulence; Gastrointestinal Transit; Hepatectomy; Humans; Ileus; Inflammation; Japan; Length of Stay; Male; Medicine, Kampo; Middle Aged; Panax; Plant Extracts; Prospective Studies; Proteoglycans; Recovery of Function; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Zanthoxylum; Zingiberaceae