Nasogastric decompression is not necessary in operations for gastric cancer: prospective randomised trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the need for routine nasogastric decompression after extensive resections in patients with gastric cancer.


METHODS
Prospective randomised study.


METHODS
University hospital, Korea.


METHODS
Over a 1-year period (July 1999-July 200), 136 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy with D2 or more lymph node dissection.


METHODS
Randomised to have nasogastric decompression (n = 69) or not (n = 67).


METHODS
Postoperative course, morbidity, and mortality.


RESULTS
Time to passage of first flatus, time to taking liquid diet, length of operation, and postoperative hospital stay were all significantly shorter in the no decompression group. Two patients in each group required subsequent nasogastric decompression. There were no significant differences between the two groups concerning the presence of postoperative fever, nausea, vomiting, anastomotic leaks, or pulmonary or wound complications. No patients died.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine nasogastric decompression is not necessary in elective operations for gastric cancer.
Yoo
Chang Hak
CH
Department of Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. chyoo63@naver.com
Son
Byung Ho
BH
Han
Won Kon
WK
Pae
Won Kil
WK
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003664:Decompression / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D007723:Korea; D007902:Length of Stay; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome