title: Systematic review of nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the necessity of nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched. Only prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared subjects with and without nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression after gastrectomy were eligible in this meta-analysis. Time to flatus, time to first oral intake, length of hospital stay, reinsertion rate, anastomotic leakage, pulmonary complications, morbidity and mortality were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies finally fulfilled the inclusion criteria. This meta-analysis enrolled 1141 patients, 570 randomized to routine decompression and 571 randomized to no decompression. Time to first oral intake was significantly shorter in the non-decompression group (WMD = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.77; p < 0.001). Additionally, subjects with nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression experienced a longer hospital stay (p = 0.001). Time to flatus, anastomotic leakage, reinsertion rates, pulmonary complications, morbidity and mortality rates were similar between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression does not facilitate the recovery of bowel function or reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Therefore, routine nasogastric or nasojejunal decompression is unnecessary after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinopancreatic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China; Gastric Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
authors.forename: Z-W
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery of People's Hospital of Chizhou, 3 Baiya Road, Chizhou, Anhui 247000, China.
authors.forename: Z-S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
authors.forename: Y-T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinopancreatic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China; Gastric Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China. Electronic address: ylh@medmail.com.cn.
authors.forename: Y-L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinopancreatic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China; Gastric Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinopancreatic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China; Gastric Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China. Electronic address: zhchangh@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004435:Eating; D005414:Flatulence; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D007583:Jejunum; D007902:Length of Stay; D009017:Morbidity; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D019233:Retreatment; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Gastrectomy; Gastric cancer; Nasogastric decompression; Nasojejunal decompression