[Effect of early oral enteral nutrition on clinical outcomes after gastric cancer surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of early oral feeding with enteral nutrition preparation after surgery on clinical outcomes in patients with gastric cancer.


METHODS
Sixty patients with gastric cancer undergoing radical operation between July 2010 and May 2011 were randomly divided into two groups using random digit table: experimental group(n=30, administration of water and enteral nutrition early after surgery) and control group(n=30, conventional postoperative care protocol). Clinical outcomes, immune function, and nutritional status between the two groups were compared.


RESULTS
As compared to the control group, duration of fever was significantly shorter in the experimental group [(81.1±6.4) h vs. (87.3±8.0) h, P<0.05], as were postoperative time of flatus [(79.9±9.5) h vs. (86.6±8.7) h, P<0.05] and postoperative hospital stay [(7.83±2.23) d vs. (9.57±1.96) d, P<0.01]. The medical cost [(30,220±3,220) RMB vs.(34,600±32,120) RMB, P<0.01] was lower than that in the control group. There was no significant difference in morbidity between the two groups[13.3%(4/30) vs. 16.7%(5/30), P>0.05]. The levels of CD3(+)T, CD4(+)T, NK cell, CD4(+)T/CD8(+)T, albumin, and prealbumin were higher in the experimental group as compared to the control group on postoperative day 3 and 7(P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Early oral feeding with enteral nutrition preparation after surgery can improve the nutritional status and immune function, and accelerate the rehabilitation for patients with gastric cancer.
Department of General Surgery, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Lei
L
Mi
Bei
B
Zhong
Dian-liang
DL
Zhang
Yan-bing
YB
Zhou
Dong-sheng
DS
Wang
D000368:Aged; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*