ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the laboratory,clinical and economic results of early postoperative enteral nutrition(EEN) in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.Methods: 120 patients with gastrointestinal cancer were randomly divided into three groups: EEN,early postoperative parenteral nutrition(PN), and traditional nutrition(CON)groups.The 1/3 and 2/3 target volumes were administered on the first and second postoperative days(1POD,2POD),and the full volume was given from 3POD to 8POD in EEN and PN groups.The routine formula was offerd from 1POD to 8POD in CON group.The nutritional and immune parameters were detected one day before surgery and 9POD, and the clinical and economic results were collected in three groups.Results: The levels of ALB,TF,PA,CD3,CD4,CD4/CD8 were significantly higher in EEN and PN groups than those in CON group(both P＜0.01),and the CD3,CD4,CD4/CD8 were better in EEN group than those in PN group(P＜0.05).The side effects of EEN group were similar to those of PN group(P>0.05). The recovery of bowel function was quicker in EEN group than that in PN and CON groups(both P＜0.05).The complication rate, cost of nutrition support,and cost of complication treatment were lower in EEN group than those in PN group(P＜0.05, P＜0.01, P＜0.01).Although the cost of nutrition support was lowest but the complication rate and cost of complication treatment were all highest in CON group.Conclusion: EEN is better in immune function, recovery of bowel function,complication rate, and cost-effectiveness than those in PN, and from our multiple angular viewpoints EEN is the first choice for patients with gastrointestinal cancer.