The Use of Early Enteral Nutrition in Post-operative Patient with Esophageal or Cardiac Cancer

Objective:To investigate the efficacy,cost and precautions in the treatment of esophageal and Cardiac carcinomas?with early postoperative enteral nutrition in comparison with to parenteral nutrition.Methods:Seventy-five cases of esophageal or cardiac cancer were randomly divided into EN group(n=30),PN group(n=23)and routine supplement group(n=22).The time for nutritional support were 8 days.The nutritional status of patients were measured before and after nutritional support.The complications,vital signs and recovery of gastrointestinal function were carefully observed.The time in hospital and the cost of each case were recorded.Results:The level of serum total protein,albumin,transferring ferroprotein and weight in the three groups were declined after operation( P 0 01).It was more obvious in the control group.The level of prealbumin was obviously elevated in PN and EN groups.The bowel moved obviously earlier in EN group than the other two groups and the rate of morbidity was the lowest after operation.Time in hospital was shortest and the cost was low in EN group.Conclusions:Early EN for post-operative patients with esophageal cancer and cardiac cancer was safe and feasible.EN was similar to PN in curative effect,but EN was superior terms of recovery of gastrointestinal function and more cost effective.