Early oral feeding after colorectal resection: a randomized controlled study

• Published in: ANZ journal of surgery 2004-05, Vol.74 (5), p.298-301
• Main Authors: Feo, Carlo V., Romanini, Barbara, Sortini, Davide, Ragazzi, Riccardo, Zamboni, Paolo, Pansini, Gian C., Liboni, Alberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chi-Square Distribution; clinical trial; colon surgery; Colorectal Neoplasms - surgery; Enteral Nutrition - methods; Female; Flatulence; Humans; Intubation, Gastrointestinal; length of stay; Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Care; postoperative complication; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting - epidemiology; Statistics, Nonparametric; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1445-1433; 1445-2197
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-1433.2004.02985.x

Background:  Nasogastric (NG) intubation is widely used following elective abdominal operations although it is associated with morbidity and discomfort. The present study is a randomised controlled trial on the effect of early oral feeding without NG decompression following elective colorectal resection for cancer. Methods:  One hundred patients were randomized to group A (NG catheter and fasting until passage of flatus, followed by liquid diet advanced to soft‐solid) or group B (no NG tube, clear liquids the day after surgery, followed by soft‐solid food). The endpoints were: (i) morbidity; (ii) resumption of intestinal function; (iii) length of hospital stay; and (iv) patients’ well being evaluated by short‐form health survey [36 items] (SF‐36). Results:  Twelve complications occurred in group A (50 patients) and 13 in group B (50 patients) (P = NS). Seven patients developed vomiting in group A as compared to 16 in group B (P