The use of early enteral nutrition in post-operative patients with esophageal or cardiac cancer

Objectives:To explore the feasibility and safety of early post operaative enteral nutrition(EN) for esophageal cancer and cardiac cancer.Its effects were compared with those of routine supplement. Methods:42 cases of esophageal cancer or cardiac cancer were randomly divided into EN group( n =24) and control group( n =18) without any nutritional support.Parameters including the body weight,the renal and liver functions,serum glucose,electrolytes,plasma protein,Hb,immunoglobulin and lymphocyte count were measured before and after nutritionl support.The complications,vital signs and resumption of gastrointestinal function were carefully observed. Results:No mortality and serious morbidity occurred in two groups, and neighter was there any evidence of impaired renal and liver function.The levels of serum albumin,prealbumin and transferrin were significantly elevated after nutritional support in the EN group( P 0.001),while the decline in body weight attenuated as compared with the control group.The bowel movement resumed significantly earlier in the EN group than in the control group. Conclusions:Early EN for post operative patients with esophageal cancer and cancer is Safe and feasible.EN is superior in terms of resumption of gastrointestinal function.It is more cost effective.