Curative Effect of Early Enteral Nutrition in Gastric Cancer Patients after Operation

Objective To evaluate the clinical curative effect of early enteral nutrition(EN)in gastric cancer patients after operation and its safety.Methods One hundred and eighty patients with gastric cancer diagnosed and underwent surgical treatment in gastrointestinal surgery center,West China Hospital from February 2011 to December 2011 were studied prospectively,who were randomly divided into EN group(n=91)and parenteral nutrition(PN)group(n=89).The nutrition state,rehabilitation,hospital stay,cost of nutrition in hospital,and complications were observed.Results ① According to the postoperative serum nutrition index,there were no significant differences in the prealbumin,hemoglobin,and ratio of albumin to globulin in two groups(P0.05),but the albumin level in the EN group was significantly higher than that in the PN group(P=0.047).② According to the postoperative rehabilitation index,the first ambulation time(P=0.011),first intake time(P=0.000),first nasogastric tube away time(P=0.013),first drainage tube away time(P=0.021),and first urinary catheter away time(P=0.002)in the EN group were significantly shorter than those in the PN group.The difference of the first anus exhaust time was not statistically significant in two groups(P=0.083).③ The cost of nutrition in hospital in the EN group was significantly less than that in the PN group(P=0.017).The postoperative hospital stay and total complication rate were not significant differences in two groups(P 0.05).Conclusion Early postoperative EN is effective,economic,practical,which might be superior to PN.