Background and aims: The impact of early enteral nutrition in elective upper gastrointestinal surgery was the focus of this study, with particular reference to its feasibility and benefits.
Method: This prospective study was carried out over 2 years. The study group included 30 patients and the control group had 31patients. Twenty-two patients in each group underwent truncal vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy for chronic duodenal ulcer and gastric outlet obstruction. Eight patients in the study group and nine in the control group underwent gastrectomy for carcinoma stomach. A standard milk-based diet was initiated 12 hours after surgery through a nasojejunal tube. The patients were monitored for side effects of enteral feeding and postoperative infective complications. Nitrogen balance and nutritional parameters like the body weight, serum albumin, and serum transferrin were measured pre and postoperatively.
Results: The groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, and preoperative nutritional factors like body weight, serum albumin, and serum transferrin. The return of bowel sounds and passage of flatus took place significantly earlier in the study group (1.43 vs. 2.81 days). Diarrhoea and abdominal cramps were the significant complications noted in the study group in relation to early enteral feeding. No patient required withdrawal of enteral feeds. They showed a positive nitrogen balance on the fourth postoperative day. The patients in the study group showed significant increase in the serum transferrin level compared with the preoperative level but the serum albumin level was not significantly altered.
Conclusion: Early enteral feeding through the nasojejunal tube following elective upper gastrointestinal surgery is feasible, safe and improves the nutritional status.