Abstract
Objective: Shakuyaku-Kanzo-To has unique anticonvulsant effects and inhibitory effects on gastric juice secretion, which appears to be useful as a premedication drug for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (endoscopy hereafter). We orally administered Shakuyaku-Kanzo-To instead of a parasympatholytic drug (anticholinergic drug) as premedication for endoscopy and evaluated its usefulness. Methods: Of 283 examinees who underwent endoscopy in ningen dock of our hospital in February 2004,152 who were examined by the same physician were enrolled as the subjects of this study. The subjects were classified into 3 groups treated with an anticholinergic drug, treated with Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to, or not treated with any drug. The 3 groups were compared with respect to the“degree of tension at the esophageal entrance”, “saliva secretion volume”, “gastric peristalsis”, “degree of gastrolavage”, “peristalsis of the duodenal bulb”, “peristalsis of the descending part of the duodenum” and “face scale”. Results: The anticonvulsant effects of Shakuyaku-Kanzo-to reduced tension at the esophageal entrance and inhibited gastric peristalsis, which alleviated examinees' pain, resulting in good acceptance of endoscopy. Conclusions: Shakuyaku-Kanzo-To, which is inexpensive and causes few side effects, may be indicated in examinees in whom anticholinergic drugs are contraindicated and the elderly.
