OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of therapy of clearing hallow viscera in treating critical patients with gastro-enteric function disorder (GEFD).

METHODSRetrospective analysis was carried out on 96 critical patients. They were 48 patients in the treated group treated with Dachengqi Decoction and 48 patients in the control group treated with Western medicine for promoting gastric dynamic force. The recovery rate, recovery time of gastro-enteric function, incidence rate and fatality rate of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), as well as the level of plasma endotoxin (ET) before and after treatment between the two groups were compared.

RESULTSComparison between the two groups in gastro-enteric function recovery rate (81.3% vs 45.8%), functional disorder sustaining time in patients who got recovered (1.2 +/- 0.3 days vs 4.0 +/- 1.1 days), incidence rate (29.17% vs 52.08%) and fatality rate (28.57% vs 56.00%) of MODS all showed significant difference (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The plasma level of ET after treatment in the treated group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTherapy of clearing hallow viscera has a good effect in treating critical patients with gastro-enteric function disorder, and could reduce the incidence and fatality of MODS.