title: The feasibility and safety of early removal of nasogastric tube after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility and safety of early removal of nasogastric tube after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 142 gastric cancer patients who underwent total gastrectomy from January 2011 to March 2012 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Early removal ER group n=57 of nasogastric tube was defined as removal within postoperative 48 h, and conventional placement CP group n=85 of nasogastric tube was defined as removal till flatus and less than 300 cc gastric juice drainage. Outcome measures included postoperative temperature, hospital stay length, days to passage of flatus, days to semi-liquid diet, postoperative complications and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant difference was found between the ER group and the CP group in postoperative highest temperature p=0,456 the incidence of temperature over 38.5C p=0,772 postoperative hospital stay length p=0,102 and time to flatus p=0,163 There was no death or reoperation in patients of both groups. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the two groups 22,8% vs 30,6%, p=0,309 There was no anastomotic leakage, hemorrhage or stenosis. There was a trend of decreased risk of postoperative pneumonia in the ER group 10,5% vs 21,2% despite no significance p=0,097 CONCLUSIONS: The early removal of nasogastric tube within postoperative 48 h after total gastrectomy is feasible and safe in common practice and might also have a potential benefit in preventing postoperative pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xin-Zu
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Xiao-Long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jia-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zong-Guang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jian-Kun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*