Objective: To assess the impact of early enteral nutrition (EN) on the intestinal motility of patients after esophagectomy.
Methods: Thirty-five consecutive patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer by a single surgical team from the Peking University Cancer Hospital from June 2011 to July 2011 were enrolled. Patients were randomly divided into EN group (n=20) and parenteral nutrition group (control group, n=15) within 24 h after esophagectomy procedure. Bowel sound recovery time was monitored by auscultation, and the gastrointestinal tract symptoms were recorded.
Results: Bowel sound recovery time was (45.1±20.3) h in the EN group, and was (56.7±17.0) h in the control group (P=0.082). Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, abdominal distension, diarrhea occurred in 4 patients in EN group and 3 patients in control group and were alleviated by lowering infusion speed and more off-bed ambulation, and no significant difference was seen between the two groups (P=1.000).
Conclusions: Early enteral nutrition in the patients after esophagectomy is safe and feasible. Early enteral nutrition does not delayed bowel function recovery or increase gastrointestinal symptoms.