Efficiency of enteral nutrition in the post-operative patients: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial

Objectives:To evaluate the efficiency of enteral nutrition in the post operative patients. Methods: A prospective, randomized and controlled trial was taken. Sixty patients who underwent abdominal surgery and need nutrition support for 10 days were randomized into two groups: enteral nutrition (EN) group and parenteral nutrition (PN) group. The intake was isonitrogenic and isocalorie in the two groups. Body weight, nutrition state and lactulose/mannitol test before operation (POD-1) and 1th and 12th day after operation(POD+7 and POD+12) were analysed. Nitrogen balance was measured daily. Results: ①The changes of body weight, albumin and transferrin were more obvious in the EN group than those in the PN group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. The changes of prealbumin and fibronectin in the EN group were significantly higher than those in the PN group. ②Nitrogen balance was positive in the EN group and negative in the PN group.③The gut barrier function in the EN group was superior to that in the PN group during nutrition support period. Conclusions: Compared with PN support, EN support can efficiently ameliorate the nutrition state of the post operative patients,and improve the gut barrier function.