A randomized controlled study to assess the effect of mosapride citrate on intestinal recovery following gastrectomy

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol, including prokinetic medications, is commonly used to prevent postoperative ileus. Prospective studies evaluating the effectiveness of mosapride citrate, a prokinetic 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor agonist, in patients undergoing gastrectomy within the ERAS framework are lacking. This double-blind randomized trial included patients who were scheduled for laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control (placebo) or experimental (mosapride citrate) group, with drugs administered on postoperative days 1-5. Bowel motility was evaluated based on bowel transit time measured using radiopaque markers, first-flatus time, and amount of food intake. No significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics between the two groups. On postoperative day 3, no significant difference was observed in the number of radiopaque markers visible in the colon between the groups. All factors associated with bowel recovery, including the time of first flatus, length of hospital stay, amount of food intake, and severity of abdominal discomfort, were similar between the two groups. Mosapride citrate does not benefit the recovery of intestinal motility after minimally invasive gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. Therefore, routine postoperative use of mosapride citrate is not recommended in such patients.