Background: There is no consensus regarding the therapeutic effect of nasointestinal tubes (NITs) versus nasogastric tubes (NGTs) in the management of small-bowel obstruction (SBO). This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between the use of NITs and NGTs in the management of SBO.
Methods: Published studies on comparing NITs with NGTs in the treatment of SBO were searched from electronic databases. Two investigators independently extracted the data; any discrepancies were adjudicated by a third investigator. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using Review Manager 5.0.
Results: An extensive literature search identified 268 relevant publications, 4 of which met the inclusion criteria. There were no significant differences in the nonrequirement of operative intervention between NITs and NGTs groups (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 0.55, 5.84). Compared with the NGTs, the NITs, which successfully passed through the pylorus, did not decrease the rate of operation in patients with SBO (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 0.59, 8.15). There was no advantage of NITs over NGTs in patients with partial SBO (P-SBO) (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.23, 4.60). Postoperative complications were compared between the groups (OR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.09, 4.15).
Conclusion: The result of this meta-analysis showed no advantage of NITs over NGTs in the management of patients with SBO.