Early enteral infusion of traditional Chinese medicine preparation can effectively promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after esophageal cancer surgery Journal of Thoracic Disease, 10/31/2011

Hu Y et al. – Early enteral injection of TCM preparation via the enteral feeding tube can effectively and safely promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after esophageal cancer surgery.

• Of patients who received surgeries for their esophageal cancers in the Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center from October 2009 to July 2011, 100 patients were enrolled and randomly divided into TCM group (n=50) and control group (n=50): in the TCM group, 200 ml home-made TCM preparation was administered via the enteral feeding tube after the enteral nutrition was provided once daily one day after surgery
• In the control group, 200 ml normal saline was administered via the enteral feeding tube after the enteral nutrition was provided one day after surgery
• Both groups were infused until the gastrointestinal function returned normal
• Time to first audible bowel sounds, bowel sound recovery time, time to first flatus, time to first stool, and abdominal symptom score were compared between these two groups

• Time to first audible bowel sounds, bowel sound recovery time, time to first flatus, and time to first stool were 34.68±6.92 h, 60.56±9.188 h, 58.52±8.986 h, and 90.38±15.379 h in the TCM group and 43.04±8.214 h, 68.72±10.180 h, 64.64±10.198 h, and 99.28±15.456 h in the control group