Clinical study of the effects of early enteral nutrition on postoperative recovery of elderly patients with easophageal cancer

Objective To investigate the influence of early postoperative enteral nutrition(EEN) on the prognosis of elderly patients with easophageal cancer.Methods From January 2006 to June 2011,120 cases of elderly patients with esophageal cancer surgery,according to different nutrition were divided into two groups,enteral nutrition(EEN) group and parenteralnutrition group(PN).In the former group 60 patients were treated with EEN;and the other 60 received deep vein parenteral nutrition(PN).In the two groups of elderly postoperative patients,recovery time,hospital stay,incidence of complications and a week after surgery,nutrition,immunization and other relevant indicators were statistically analyzed.Results EEN group was shorter in the postoperative flatus(44.3±12.5 h vs.73.6±11.8 h),defecation time(81.5±15.1 h vs.138.1±13.2 h) and hospital stay(14.0±1.9 d vs.16.2±.0 d) than PN group(P0.05),one week postoperative serum albumin(ALB),peripheral blood lymphocytes,Tf,the 24 h urea nitrogen(BUN) in EEN group were higher than those in PN group;In EEN group,the levels of IgG,IgA,IgM and CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,CD4+/CD8+ peripheral blood T lymphocyte sub-groups such as immunization indicator were significantly improved than those in PN group(P0.05);The incidence of inter-operation complications in EEN group was significantly lower than that in PN group(P0.05).Conclusions EEN in elderly patients with esophageal cancer can promote the recovery of postoperative metabolism and immune function,and reduce complications.The prognosis of patients has important clinical significance.It is worthy of further promotion and application.