Enteral vs parenteral nutrition after major abdominal surgery: an even match.
OBJECTIVE
Immediate enteral feeding following major abdominal surgery reduces postoperative complications and mortality when compared with parenteral nutrition.


METHODS
A prospective multicenter randomized trial.


METHODS
A university hospital department of digestive surgery.


METHODS
Two hundred forty-one malnourished patients undergoing major elective abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to receive, after surgery, either enteral (enteral nutrition group: 119 patients) or parenteral nutrition (total parenteral nutrition group: 122 patients). The patients were monitored for postoperative complications and mortality.


RESULTS
The rate of major postoperative complications was similar in the enteral and parenteral groups (enteral nutrition group: 37.8%; total parenteral nutrition group: 39.3%; P was not significant), as were the overall postoperative mortality rates (5.9% and 2.5%, respectively; P was not significant).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study failed to demonstrate that enteral feeding following major abdominal surgery reduces postoperative complications and mortality when compared with parenteral nutrition.
Pacelli
F
F
Department of Digestive Surgery, Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica, Catholic University School of Medicine, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. fpacelli@hotmail.com
Bossola
M
M
Papa
V
V
Malerba
M
M
Modesti
C
C
Sgadari
A
A
Bellantone
R
R
Doglietto
G B
GB
Modesti
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies