Cost-effective comparison between early enteral nutrition and total parenteral nutrition on elder postoperative gastric cancer patients

Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of early enteral nutrition (EEN) in elder patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. Methods An outcome-based retrospective review of 52 patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma between July 1999 and June 2002 was performed .There were 27 patients in the EEN group, and 25 in the TPN group. Results The mean postoperative hospital days of the EEN group was significantly less than that of the TPN group (16.3 d vs. 21.3 d, t =4.6814, P 0.01). The mean cost of the EEN group was significantly less than that of the TPN group ($ 10 563 vs $ 13 640, P 0.05). The complication rates of the EEN group were lower than that of the TPN group( P 0.05).Postoperative hepatic AKP level in TPN group significantly elevated. Conclusion Early postoperative enteral nutrition after gastrectomy decreases the postoperative complication rate, and has less side effects on liver function.