Early enteral nutrition in postoperative patients with esophageal cancer

Objective: To explore the feasibility,safety and clinical effects of early postoperative enteral nutrition(EN) for patients with esophageal cancer.Methods: Eighty cases of esophageal cancer were randomly divided into EN group(n=42) and parenteral nutrition(PN) group(n=38).A series of parameters including serum total proteins,serum albumin,prealbumin,transferrin,lymphocyte count,urea nitrogen,creatinine,serum glucose and glutamic pyruvic transaminase were tested preoperatively and at postoperative day 7.The sympotom of digestive tract,resumption of gastrointestinal functions,postoperative complication and length of hospital stay were carefully observed and recorded.Results: No mortality occurred during the period of study.There was no evidence of damage of EN to the renal or liver function.The concentration of prealbumin,transferrin and lymphocyte count was significantly elevated after nutritional support in EN group(P<0.01).Compared with PN group,the concentration of serum albumin,prealbumin,transferrin and lymphocyte count was significantly increased after nutritional support in EN group(P<0.01).The early out of bed activity and the bowel movement resumed significantly earlier in EN group than those in PN group(P<0.001).The length of hospital stay was shorter in EN group(P<0.01) and there was no serious complication in EN group.Conclusions: Early postoperative enteral nutrition for patients with esophageal cancer is safe,feasible and effective.The early enteral nutrition is beneficial to the improvement of nutritional status,resumption of immunological function,reduction of the postoperative complication and improvement of the quality of life.