Effect of early enteral nutrition on patients with radical total gastrectomy

Objective: To evaluate the effect of early enteral nutrition(EEN) on patients who had undergone radical total gastrectomy.Methods: An outcome-based retrospective review of EEN and total parenteral nutrition(TPN) in patients who had undergone radical total gastrectomy between January,2001 to December,2007 was performed.At the first day of postoperation,29 cases were administered EEN and 27 cases were administered TPN.Results: The mean postoperative hospital stay of the EEN group was significantly shorter than that of the TPN group(P<0.01).The complication rate in the EEN group was significantly lower than that of the TPN group(P<0.01).After nutrition support,the serum total protein level and the serum albumin level showed no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusions: After radical toal gastrectomy,EEN is superior to TPN,which may reduce complications and shorten the hospital stay.