title: Early postoperative oral feeding impacts positively in patients undergoing colonic resection: results of a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early oral feeding after colorectal resections is one of the many factors that contributes to enhance recovery after surgery, mainly impacting on postoperative ileus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of early postoperative oral feeding in patients undergoing elective colorectal resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned to either a conventional postoperative dietary regimen or a free diet on the first postoperative day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether 29 patients were enrolled. Clinical characteristics were similar in both groups. Good nutritional status was seen in 86% of patient in the traditional care (TRAD) group versus 46% in the early fed (EF) group (p<0.05). There was no difference between groups in terms of procedures. Median hospital stay was 5.0 days in the TRAD group versus 3.0 days in the EF group (p<0.05). Complication rates and acceptance of diet were similar in both groups. Diarrhea occurred more frequently in the TRAD group (OR=1.86; IC 95%:1.08-3.20).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early oral intake is well tolerated, leads to significant shorter hospital stay and does not increase complications.
authors.affiliation: Alfa Institute of Gastroenterology, Medical School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. maufop@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lobato Dias Consoli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maciel Fonseca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomes da Silva
authors.forename: Ma I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Toulson Davisson Correia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D003107:Colorectal Surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000517:prevention & control; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult