Effect of Daikenchuto for Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Enteral Feeding Intolerance: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis Using a Nationwide Administrative Inpatient Database.

BACKGROUND

Daikenchuto, a Japanese herbal Kampo medicine, is used to improve gastrointestinal motility in critically ill patients with enteral feeding intolerance (EFI) in Japan. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Daikenchuto for critically ill patients with EFI.

METHODS

Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database from July 2010 to March 2018, we identified mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICUs) who had EFI during mechanical ventilation. We defined EFI as receipt of intravenous metoclopramide during mechanical ventilation. Patients who started Daikenchuto within 2 days of EFI onset were defined as the Daikenchuto group, and the remaining patients were defined as the control group. Propensity score-matched analyses were performed to compare the outcomes between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

A total of 61,454 patients were included. Of these, 8842 patients (14%) were in the Daikenchuto group. One-to-one propensity score matching created 8701 matched pairs. After propensity score matching, the total number of days receiving enteral nutrition within 28 days of EFI onset was significantly longer in the Daikenchuto group than in the control group (risk difference, 0.9 days; 95% CI, 0.5-1.3 days). There were no significant differences in 28-day in-hospital mortality, hospital-acquired pneumonia, ventilator-free days, length of ICU stay, time to discharge alive, and adverse complications.

CONCLUSION

This nationwide observational study suggested that use of Daikenchuto may increase the total number of days receiving enteral nutrition in mechanically ventilated patients with EFI.