International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health

Post Gastrectomy Early Enteral Feeding Through Naso- Jejunal Tube In Cases of Gastric Cancer: A Prospective Clinical study

Background: Surgery remains the key answer for operable gastric cancer cases. However, early postoperative enteral feeding and the various routes of feeding are still the burning issues for debate

Objectives & Aim: We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the patient’s tolerability and outcome of early enteral feeding through naso-jejunal tube after gastrectomy/ gastro-jejunostomy in cases of carcinoma stomach.

Methods: Over a period of 5years, total numbers of 139 patients (male-102 and female 37) aged between 44 and 81 years, operated for gastric cancer were included in this study. Radical gastrectomy was performed in 116 patients and palliative gastro-jejunostomy in 43 patients. Patients were subjected to enteral (naso-jejunal tube) feeding from the first postoperative day. In all cases placement of the naso-jejunal tube was done per-operatively under vision and another second naso-gastric tube was introduced in to the stomach for decompression of the stomach. Both the tubes were fixed over the nose with adhesive tape.

Results: Enteral feeding was started in 137 patients on the 1st postoperative day. In two patients enteral feeding could not start from postoperative day1 due to suspicion of anastomotic bleed. Of total 139 patients; in 131 patients, scheduled early enteral naso-jejunal feeding was continued without difficulties. Eight patients failed to do so due to development of feeding related complications such as nausea/vomiting/diarrhea /abdominal blotting.

Conclusions: Early enteral naso-jejunal feeding is cheap and safe. It should be advocated for its simplicity and great advantages.

Author(s): DK Das , J Purkayastha , R Dass

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