title: Benefits and limitations of enteral nutrition in the early postoperative period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preexisting malnutrition has been shown to be a major clinical problem in surgical patients. Surgical stress itself increases the energy expenditure and protein loss making necessary the early nutritional support. Although there is strong evidence that "nil by mouth" is not justified, the data are still conflicting over the role of early enteral nutrition compared with the traditional methods of postoperative feeding including total parenteral nutrition support.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper deals with the various trials related to early enteral feeding. It also compares this with the possible advantages of total parenteral nutrition as a method of perioperative nutritional support in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Surgery, Agia Olga Hospital, 3-5 Agias Olgas Street, 14233, Athens, Greece. chrisder@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dervenis
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avgerinos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lytras
authors.forename: Spiros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delis
mesh_terms: D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome