Simo decoction combined with hot package of traditional Chinese medicine in promoting recovery of gastrointestinal function after operation for congenital intestinal atresia

Objective To explore the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) internal and external treatment of Simo decoction combined with TCM hot package in promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal function after operation for congenital intestinal atresia. Methods 80 infants diagnosed with congenital intestinal atresia treated at our hospital from January, 2015 to December, 2018 were randomly divided into a control group (G1), a Simo decoction group (G2), a TCM hot package group (G3), and a Simo decoction group combined with TCM hot package group (G4), 20 cases for each group. All the patients were type Ⅲa in Grosfeld classification, and treated with surgical procedures of intestinal atresia resection and proximal cut end oblique anastomosis, postoperative fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, and parenteral nutrition support. In addition of routine treatment, such as fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, and parenteral nutrition support, group G2, G3, and G4 were treated with Simo decoction, TCM hot package, and combination of Simo decoction with TCM hot package, respectively. The postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery (bowel sound recovery time, postoperative defecation time, postoperative feeding time, sufficient feeding time, and postoperative parenteral nutrition time), hospitalization time, hospitalization cost, postoperative complications, and adverse reactions were compared between each two groups. Results There were no statistical differences in the preoperative data among the four groups. The bowel sound recovery time, postoperative defecation time, postoperative feeding time, and sufficient feeding time were (35.83±16.7) h, (5.02±0.8) d, (5.25±0.6) d, (13.55±1.0) d, and (12.96±0.8) d in group G4, which were shorter than those in group G1 (all P<0.05). The hospital stay was (14.90±1.33) d and the hospitalization cost was (42 958.50±2 431.98) yuan in group G4, which were lower than those in group G1 (P<0.05). None died, no complications such as intestinal anastomotic obstruction or anastomotic fistula and no adverse reactions occurred, and the prognosis was good in all the four groups. Conclusion TCM internal and external treatment of Simo decoction combined with TCM hot package can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after operation for congenital intestinal atresia of type IIIa in neonates, so it can reduce hospital stay and hospitalization cost. It is an effective TCM treatment for congenital intestinal atresia after operation. Key words: Congenital intestinal atresia; Functional intestinal obstruction; Simo decoction; TCM hot package