ABSTRACT
In patients who have had major surgery or trauma, early enteral feeding is safer and more effective than parenteral or nasogastric feeding but is frequently associated with diarrhea. Limited recordings have shown that the patterning of duodenal interdigestive motor activity is frequently abnormal after surgery or in patients who are critically ill. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the effects of postoperative administration of sufficient amounts of protein and calories, provided in the three different methods namely, total parenteral nutrition, total enteral nutrition, and a new method consisting of the combined use of peripheral parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition. In the combined method, half the calculated total nutritional requirements was provided via the peripheral venous route, and the remaining amount via the enteral route. The three nutritionally supported groups of patients were compared with patients who received the usually administered conventional fluid therapy, where insufficient amounts of calories and no protein were provided