Clinical study on early enteral nutrition and parenteral mutrition after total gastrectomy in elder of gastric cancer patients

Objective To study feasibility and effects of early enteral nutrition(EEN) after total gastrectomy in elderly patients of gastric cancer. Methods Sixty-six cases of gastric cancer underwent total gastrectomy were divided into two groups randomly. One group was treated with EEN, another with parenteral nutrition(PN). Results The difference of nutritional status and incidence of posteroprative complications between EEN and PN group had no statistical significance, but the EEN group had earlier recovery of intestinal function and shorter hospital stay when compared with PN group. Conclusions EEN is an effective way of postoperative nutritional support in elderly patients of gastric cancer, which is safe, reliable, simple and clinically valuable.