Effectiveness of Daikenchuto, a Traditional Japanese Herbal Medicine, in Accelerating Capsule Endoscopy Transit Time- A Prospective Pilot Study

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is an effective and non-invasive method to exam lesions in the small intestine [1][2]. The battery life is a limiting factor for CE examinations. In approximately 20% of the cases, parts of the small intestine cannot be observed due to the delayed passage of the capsule through the small intestine, and thus it is necessary to shorten the passage time [3][4]. Currently, there is no consensus on the preparation of patients to improve the passage of CEs through their digestive tract, and the establishment of a standardized preparatory treatment is necessary. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the pre-exam administration of Daikenchuto shortens the time during which a CE remains in the small intestine, and to improve the speed at which the capsules reach the large intestine.