Outcome Analysis of Early Oral Feeding in Comparison with Traditional Feeding after Upper Gastointestinal Surgeries

Background: The practice of starving patients in the immediate period after upper gastrointestinal surgery is widespread. It have shown that the early initiation of oral feeding is feasible and safe after upper gastrointestinal surgeries, and suggest that this practice may reduce infection related complications and length of hospital stay compared with the traditional approach “nothing by mouth” resulting in faster recovery.

Aim: To evaluate early starting of oral feeding in upper gastrointestinal surgeries is better in comparison to traditional feeding in terms of post operative leak, septic complications and length of hospital stay?

Material and Methods: A randomized control trial including 70 patients of both sex and over 18 years of age, who underwent upper gastrointestinal surgeries were included and were randomized in two groups, one who were given oral feed within 24 hrs of surgery were compared to one who were traditionally given feed after return of bowel sounds in terms of convalescence of gastrointestinal function and were followed for bowel movements, and time of tolerance of solid diet, complications, and the length of hospitalization.

Results: With 35 patients in each group, considering the gastrointestinal recovery, earlier intestinal movements (2.17 days vs. 3.97 days, p<0.001) and defecation (3.80 days vs. 6.57 days, p<0.001) were observed in the early feeding group’s patients. Moreover, the regular diet was tolerated by patients in the early feeding group significantly earlier (4.62 days vs. 7.26 days, p<0.001). The mean hospital stay was significantly shorter in the early feeding group (7.77 days vs. 13 days, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Early oral diet is safe and viable for patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal surgery.