To explore the efficacy of houpu paiqi mixture in treatment of patients with serious craniocerebral trauma complicated with gastroparesis.

One hundred and twenty five patients with serious craniocerebral trauma complicated with gastroparesis were admitted to the 180th Hospital of People′s Liberation Army from January 2012 to June 2016. They were randomly divided into study group (63 cases) and control group (62 cases) according to the random number table method. After diagnosis of gastric paralysis complicated, patients in study group were injected with houpu paiqi mixture 50 mL twice a day for 1 to 3 days. Patients in the control group were given 5 mg of mosapride tablets via gastric tube 3 times a day for 1 to 3 days. Other treatment measures as dehydration, prevention of infection, nutrition nerves, nutritional support, inhibition of gastric acid and etc. were basically the same in both groups. Intra-abdominal pressure, abdominal circumference changes before and 72 h after treatment, first defecation time after treatment were recorded in both groups. The time of urine turning blue by methylene blue excretion test, gastrointestinal function to restore the situation 72 h after treatment of the two groups were recorded. The changes of vital signs before and after the treatment and the toxic and side effects in the course of treatment of the two groups were observed. Data were processed with t test and Chi-square test.

There were no significant differences in intra-abdominal pressure and abdominal circumference between the two groups before treatment (with P values above 0.05). The patients of the intra-abdominal pressure 72 h after treatment was (1.75±0.50) kPa in the study group, which was (2.08±0.54) kPa in the control group, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=3.55, P<0.05). The abdominal circumference of the study group 72 h after treatment was (115.6±11.4) cm, the control group was (121.8±12.6) cm, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=2.89, P<0.05). The first defecation time after treatment was (39.3 ± 10.7) h in the study group, significantly earlier than the control group (52.8 ± 13.4) h, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=6.26, P<0.05). The time of urine turning blue by the methylene blue excretion test (4.3±1.2) h in the study group was significantly earlier than the control group (5.9±1.7) h, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=6.09, P<0.05). The total effective rate of gastrointestinal function recovery was 88.89% (56/63) in the study group, which was 72.58% (45/62) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.36, P<0.05). There were no changes in vital signs before and after the treatment in the two groups, and no toxic or side effects were observed.

Houpu paiqi mixture can significantly promote gastrointestinal function in patients with serious craniocerebral trauma complinicated with gastroparesis, and it is safe to clinical application.