Efficacy of daikenchuto, a traditional Japanese Kampo medicine, for postoperative intestinal dysfunction in patients with gastrointestinal cancers: meta-analysis

Background The Japan Society for Oriental Medicine makes a compilation of structured abstracts of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Kampo medicines available on its Evidence Reports of Kampo Treatment (EKAT) website. Methods Using EKAT, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of using daikenchuto (https://mpdb.nibiohn.go.jp/stork) for bowel dysfunction after surgery for gastrointestinal cancer. The primary outcomes were the time to first postoperative flatus and the time to first postoperative bowel movement (BM). Results We found nine relevant RCTs. The mean differences between the daikenchuto group and control group (daikenchuto was not administered) were - 0.43 (95% CI: - 0.77 to - 0.09) days for the time to first postoperative flatus, - 0.29 (95% CI: - 0.59 to 0.01) days for the time to first postoperative BM, and - 0.95 (95% CI: - 1.70 to - 0.21) days for the length of postoperative hospital stay, and the risk ratio of the incidence of intestinal obstruction was 0.60 (95% CI: 0.35-1.03). The time to first postoperative flatus and the length of postoperative hospital stay were significantly shorter in the daikenchuto group than those in the control group (P=0.01). However, only double-blind studies were evaluated; the results turned to be non-significant. Conclusion As a result of meta-analysis by all retrieved according to the registered protocol, daikenchuto was efficacious in improving postoperative bowel dysfunction in patients with gastrointestinal cancers. However, limiting to articles with description of COI and blindness, significance disappeared.