Traditional Chinese and Western multidisciplinary team approach for gut microbiome recovery postintestinal stoma closure

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Intestinal stoma closure can lead to severe gut microbiome dysbiosis, adversely affecting postoperative recovery and quality of life. An integrative approach combining traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine within a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) framework presents a promising strategy to enhance gut health. However, its efficacy has not been systematically evaluated.

AIM

To investigate the efficacy of an MDT approach combining TCM and Western medicine in promoting gut microbiome recovery after intestinal stoma closure.

METHODS

A retrospective study design was employed, analyzing data from patients who underwent intestinal stoma closure between January 2020 and December 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: The control group, which received standard Western medical care, and the MDT group, which received an integrative approach combining TCM and Western medicine. Medical records were reviewed to collect data on patient demographics, clinical characteristics, pre- and postoperative gut microbiome analysis, gastrointestinal symptoms, hospital stay duration, psychological assessments, immunological indicators, and nutritional status.

RESULTS

The study included 251 patients, with 122 in the control group and 129 in the MDT group. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. The MDT group showed significantly higher alpha diversity (Shannon index) postoperatively compared with the control group. The MDT group had higher operational taxonomic unit counts for Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria than the control group, whereas the control group had higher operational taxonomic unit counts for Firmicutes than the MDT group. The MDT group demonstrated lower prevalence rates of abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea postoperatively and shorter hospital stays than the control group. Patients in the MDT group reported improvements in chronic condition management, psychological well-being, immunological indicators, and nutritional status. The MDT group exhibited enhanced immune function, improved intestinal permeability, and better quality of life than the control group.

CONCLUSION

This retrospective study suggests that the MDT approach, combining TCM and Western medicine, has the potential to promote gut microbiome recovery and improve overall outcomes after intestinal stoma closure.

Keywords: Intestinal stoma closure; Gut microbiome recovery; Traditional Chinese medicine; Western medicine; Multidisciplinary team

Core Tip: This retrospective study demonstrates that a multi-disciplinary team approach integrating Traditional Chinese medicine with standard Western medicine significantly enhances gut microbiome recovery after intestinal stoma closure. Compared to standard care, the multi-disciplinary team approach improved microbial diversity, reduced gastrointestinal symptoms, shortened hospital stays, and enhanced immunological, nutritional, and psychological outcomes. These findings highlight the potential of integrative medicine to offer a more holistic and effective strategy for improving postoperative recovery in this patient population, providing a novel direction for clinical practice.