Brief Article
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Surg. Apr 27, 2013; 5(4): 115-122
Published online Apr 27, 2013. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v5.i4.115
Effect of Daikenchuto (TJ-100) on abdominal bloating in hepatectomized patients
Kazuhiro Hanazaki, Kengo Ichikawa, Masaya Munekage, Hiroyuki Kitagawa, Ken Dabanaka, Tsutomu Namikawa
Kazuhiro Hanazaki, Kengo Ichikawa, Masaya Munekage, Hiroyuki Kitagawa, Ken Dabanaka, Tsutomu Namikawa, Department of Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
Author contributions: Hanazaki K, Ichikawa K and Munekage M designed research; Hanazaki K, Ichikawa K, Munekage M and Kitagawa H collected data, performed data analysis and wrote first draft of paper; Hanazaki K, Dabanaka K and Namikawa T edited the paper.
Supported by Grant from Tsumura and Co, the pharmaceutical company
Correspondence to: Kazuhiro Hanazaki, MD, PhD, Professor, Chairman, Department of Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Okocho, Nankoku-City, Kochi 783-8505, Japan. hanazaki@kochi-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-88-8802370 Fax: +81-88-8802371
Received: August 21, 2012
Revised: February 21, 2013
Accepted: March 8, 2013
Published online: April 27, 2013
Processing time: 246 Days and 0.3 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of Daikenchuto (DKT) in hepatecomized patients.

METHODS: Twenty patients were enrolled with informed consent. Two patients were excluded because of cancelled operations. The remaining 18 patients were randomly chosen for treatment with DKT alone or combination therapy of DKT and lactulose (n = 9, each group). Data were prospectively collected. Primary end points were Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for abdominal bloating, total Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS) score for abdominal symptoms, and GSRS score for abdominal bloating.

RESULTS: The VAS score for abdominal bloating and total GSRS score for abdominal symptoms recovered to levels that were not significantly different to preoperative levels by 10 d postoperation. Combination therapy of DKT and lactulose was associated with a significantly poorer outcome in terms of VAS and GSRS scores for abdominal bloating, total GSRS score, and total daily calorie intake, when compared with DKT alone therapy.

CONCLUSION: DKT is a potentially effective drug for postoperative management of hepatectomized patients, not only to ameliorate abdominal bloating, but also to promote nutritional support by increasing postoperative dietary intake.

Keywords: Daikenchuto; Hepatic resection; Abdominal bloating; Visual analogue scale score; Gastrointestinal symptoms rating scale score