2017 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 41-47
Background: ‘Oketsu’ means mal-circulation or stasis of blood flow. Intracerebral hemorrhage can be classified into‘oketsu’syndrome in Japanese traditional medicine. Keishibukuryogan is one of ku-oketsu medicines which improve ‘oketsu’ syndrome by facilitating blood flow. In addition, because absorbed hematoma is excreted out of the body via the bowel, we need to ensure smooth bowel movement in order to accelerate early reduction of the hematoma. Sennoside, a typical Daio medicine, is known to improve stagnated bowel movement which phenomenon is often seen in stroke patients.
Aims: We have administered keishibukuryogan in combination with sennoside to intracerebral hematoma patients in order to verify whether it can accelerate hematoma absorption and improve their prognosis.
Methods: Six intracerebral hematomas (ICHs) are included in this study. They are all administered with both keishibukuryogan and sennoside. Six ICHs without administration of these medicines are selected as a control group. Computed tomography is taken on the day of hemorrhage, and one week and two weeks after the hemorrhage in order to calculate volume of hematomas. Absorption rate of hematoma is shown by calculating residual volume of the hematoma (hematoma residual ratio).
Results: Hematoma residual ratio in ku-oketsu group (mean 66.7% ± 19.9%, median value 75.9%) is significantly smaller than that in control group (mean 101.4% ± 10.3%, median value 101.7%, Wilcoxon rank sum test, p=0.017). The earlier improvement of bowel movement tends to show the smaller hematoma residual ratio, although the difference is not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Administration of keishibukuryogan in combination with sennoside to ICH patients may accelerate hematoma absorption.
