Abstract： AIM To observe the clinical effects of modified Sanxiang Xiaopi decoction in treating gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients after surgery for colon cancer.METHODS Eighty patient with gastrointestinal dysfunction after surgery for colon cancer were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 40 cases for each group.Both groups were administered with enhanced anti-infection and nutrition support and other therapies,and patients in the treatment group were additionally given 80 mL of water-dissolved modified Sanxiang Xiaopi decoction through a stomach tube.Both groups were treated for 14 d.They were evaluated in terms of times to recovery of bowel sound and anal exhaust and improvement of syndromes and main symptoms.RESULTS The total effective rates in improving syndromes,abdominal fullness and distention,abdominal pain and loss of appetite were 90％,90％,95％ and 90％,respectively,in the treatment group,all of which were significantly superior to those in the control group (52.5％,52.5％,65％ and 50％,respectively;P ＜ 0.01).Times to recovery of bowel sound and anal exhaust in the treatment group were significantly shorter than those of the control group (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION Modified Sanxiang Xiaopi decoction has a definite curative effect in treating gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients after surgery for colon cancer.