title: There is no need for nasogastric decompression after partial gastrectomy with extensive lymphadenectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out if routine nasogastric tube decompression is necessary after radical gastrectomy with systematic extensive lymphadenectomy in patients with gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomised trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical Department, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  74 patients with gastric cancer including 11 with gastric outlet obstruction who underwent radical distal gastrectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  After operation, 37 patients were randomised to receive nasogastric intubation and 37 not to have it.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morbidity, mortality, and speed of recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No patient died after operation. The groups were comparable for the day of starting oral diet, rate of reinsertion of nasogastric tube and morbidity. Patients who were not intubated mobilised more quickly, and spent less time in hospital. Only one of seven patients with gastric outlet obstruction who had not been intubated needed to be so.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine postoperative nasogastric decompression is unnecessary after radical gastrectomy even in the presence of gastric outlet obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D017219:Gastric Outlet Obstruction / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*