[Successful use of "juzen-taiho-to", a kampo medicine, for the treatment of perioperative anemia and hypoalbuminemia].

Abstract

An 88-year-old woman suffering from femoral neck fracture was transported to the emergency room of a hospital. The patient and her family refused transfusion, despite anemia, stating their affiliation with Jehova's Witnesses. Surgery was performed under general anesthesia, and the following day, anemia (hemoglobin, 7.5 g x dl(-1)) and hypoalbuminemia (albumin, 2.7 g x dl(-1)) were observed, in addition to anorexia and general fatigue. The patient underwent nutritional treatment with a kampo medicine (Juzen-taiho-to), which was administered as a medication due to difficulties with swallowing the powdered form. On the 18th day after admission, anemia (hemoglobin, 8.9 g x dl(-1)) and hypoalbuminemia (3.6 g x dl(-1)) improved, as did anorexia and general fatigue. It is thought that the components Shimotsu-to, a component known to improve anemia, and Shikunshi-to, a vital energy supplementing component, were the main ingredients that conferred the improvements in anemia and hypoalbuminemia. These findings suggest that Chinese herbal medicine for the nutritional treatment of the elderly has minimal side effects.

• Authors: Tomohiro Tanaka, Nobuyasu Komasawa, Maiko Kataiwa, Tsutomu Hashimoto, Mutsumi Ohue, Toshiaki Minami
• Journal: Masui. The Japanese journal of anesthesiology (Masui) Vol. 63 Issue 8 Pg. 924-6 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 0021-4892 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 25199335 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• juzentaihoto

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Anemia (drug therapy, etiology)
• Anesthesia, General
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Femoral Neck Fractures (complications, surgery)
• Humans
• Hypoalbuminemia (drug therapy, etiology)
• Jehovah's Witnesses
• Nutritional Support
• Phytotherapy
• Postoperative Complications (drug therapy)
• Treatment Outcome