Effect of enteral nutrition on immune function after esophagectomy of esophageal carcinoma

Objective To study the effect of enteral nutrition on immune function in patients after esophagectomy. Methods Forty-four patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer were randomized into enteral nutrition(EN) group (n=20) or parenteral nutrition (PN) group (n=24). From the 1st day after operation, the patients received either enteral nutrition or parenteral nutrition, with an isocalorie and isonitrogen for 9 days. Host immunity was evaluated by IgA, IgG, IgM, B-lymphocytes, total lymphocytes, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, and NK cell activity preoperatively, on the 1st day and 9th day postoperatively. Results 43 cases completed the study. There were no significant differences in the results of all of above parameters in two groups before operation. Patients in two groups had a certain degree of postoperative immunosuppression. On postoperative day 9, there was no significant difference in B-lymphocytes between two groups , but the levels of IgA, IgG, IgM, total lymphocytes, CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8, and NK cell activity were significantly higher and CD8 was significantly lower in the EN group than in the PN group(P0.05). Conclusion Compared with the parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition may have beneficial effects on the immunity function in patients following esophagectomy .