ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of early enteral nutrition.Methods 248 patients with esophageal and gastric carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups,and received enteral nutrition(EN)and parenteral nutrition(PN)each continuously for 6 days after operation.The body weight,blood routine test,liver function,and postoperative day 8 were compared with those before operation.Results The body weight,red blood cell count,and the levels of hemoglobin,serum albumin and transaminase decreased less in EN group than those in PN group(P＜0.01).The complication rates of anastomotic fistula,pulmonary infection,and delayedincision healing and average volume of pleural effusion were 0,13.8%,0,780ml in EN groups,while 3.2%,28.2%,7.2%,1842ml in PN group.Conclusion Early postoperative enteral nutirtion after esophageal carcinoma surgery can improve nutritional status and reduce complications in comparision with parenteral nutrition.