Bukuryoingohangekobokuto may improve recurrent aspiration pneumonia in patients with brain damage and reduce the caregiver burden

Abstract

A 17-year-old girl with hypoxic encephalopathy was hospitalized over four times in a year because of recurrent aspiration pneumonia (AP). She had dysphagia and reduced cough reflex as sequelae of brain damage. To prevent aspiration, a gastric tube was placed for feeding, but it did not reduce the frequency of AP because the gastroesophageal reflux caused backflow. However, after the Kampo medicine bukuryoingohangekobokuto (BRIHK) was added to the prescriptions, her sputum and gastroesophageal reflux was remarkably reduced. BRIHK is a Kampo medicine that confers multiple benefits such as improving swallowing and cough reflexes, reducing sputum, and improving gastric emptying. Subsequently, the frequency of sputum suction reduced from every 15 min to 30 min, thus reducing the burden on her mother. As a result, she has never been hospitalized for AP in the 7 years after treatment. Overall, BRIHK may be a treatment of choice for similar patients.

Case Report: Prolonged Anorexia With Nausea Caused by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Malignant Melanoma Treated Using Kampo Medicines Bukuryoingohangekobokuto and Ninjin’yoeito

“…We previously reported that BRGHT could inhibit corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2, dopamine receptors D2 and D3, neuropeptide Y receptor type 2, and acetylcholinesterase, which synergistically improves gastric emptying ( Mogami et al, 2020 ). BRGHT administration also reduces the frequency of aspiration pneumonia in patients with brain damage ( Takayama et al, 2021 ).…”