OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effect of Compound cantharis capsules on gastrointestinal hormone and Th1/Th2 immune balance in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma after surgery. METHODS: Totally 86 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma received surgery admitted into the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Engineering from Jun. 2018 to Jul. 2020 were selected and divided into observation group and control group via random number table

with 43 cases in each group. The control group was given conventional processing after surgery

while the observation group was treated with Compound cantharis capsules for 2 weeks since the second day after treatment based on the control group. Recovery of gastrointestinal function after surgery

levels of gastrointestinal hormone

peripheral blood Th1-like cytokines[including interleukin 2（ IL-2）

interferon-γ（ IFN-γ） and tumor necrosis factor α（ TNF-α） ]

Th2-like cytokines[including interleukin 4（ IL-4） and interleukin 10（ IL-10） ]

proportion of Th1 cell and Th2 cell

Th1/Th2

incidences of postoperative complications and adverse drug reactions during treatment were observed.RESULTS: After surgery of cholangiocarcinoma

the recovery time of bowel sounds

the first anal venting and defecation time of patients in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 05）. After treatment

the motilin（ MTL） and gastrin（ GAS） levels of both groups were significantly higher than those of before treatment

the MTL and GAS levels of observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group; the vasoactive intestinal peptide（ VIP） levels of both groups were significantly lower than those of before treatment

and the VIP level of observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 05）. After treatment

the peripheral blood IL-2

IFN-γand TNF-α levels

proportion of Th1 cell and Th1/Th2 value of both groups were significantly higher than those of before treatment

and those of the observation group were significantly higher than the control group; the IL-4 and IL-10 levels and proportion of Th2 cell of both groups were significantly lower than those of before treatment

and those of the observation group were significantly lower than the control group

with statistically significant differences（ P <0. 05）. The incidence of complications was 32. 56%（ 14/43） in the observation group

which was slightly lower than41. 86%（ 18/43） in the control group

the difference was not statistically significant（ P > 0. 05）. During treatment

the incidences of adverse drug reactions were respectively 60. 47%（ 26/43） in the observation group and 58. 14%（ 25/43） in the control group

the difference was not statistically significant（ P > 0. 05）. CONCLUSIONS: The application of Compound cantharis capsules on patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma after surgery can promote the recovery of gastroenteric function

regulate gastrointestinal hormones

increase the proportions of Th1-like cytokines and Th1 cell

decrease the proportions of Th2-like cytokines and Th2 cell

improve the Th1/Th2 immune balance and reduce postoperative complications

with good safety.