A prospective single-institute study of the impact of Daikenchuto on the early postoperative outcome after living donor liver transplantation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nThe aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Daikenchuto (DKT) on early postoperative outcomes after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), focusing on the prevention of abdominal distension and bacterial translocation.\n\n\nMETHODS\nAdult LDLT recipients were prospectively divided into 2 groups, who were administered DKT (n\xa0=\xa020, group A) or not (n\xa0=\xa020, group B). The area of bowel gas defined as gas volume score (GVS) 7 days after LDLT was calculated. Postoperative liver function tests, the development of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, and GVS after LDLT were reviewed.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThere were no significant differences in liver function tests and ammonia level after LDLT. Also, the rates of infection and the result of culture study were not different between groups. The median GVS 7 days after LDLT was not significantly different between groups A (0.26 (range, 0.12-0.58)) and B (0.23 (range, 0.15-0.42)).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nNo positive impact was observed for 14-day DKT administration after LDLT, in terms of preventing infection or abdominal distension.