ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the effect of early enteral nutrition (EN) on immune function of the patients after operation for severe abdominal trauma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourty patients who underwent operation for severe abdominal trauma were randomly divided into two groups, and received an early enteral nutrition (EN group, n=20) through jejunal nutritional tube from postoperative day 1, or parental nutrition (PN group, n=20) for 7 days. C3, IgA, IgM, IgG and CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ of the two groups patients were detected on the day before operation and the postoperative day 1 and 8. The infection complications were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 7 days, the levels of C3+, IgA, IgG, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ in EN group increased significantly compared with those in PN group (P< 0.05). The incidence of infection was 10% in EN group, while 30% in PN group (P< 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Early enteral nutrition can improve immune function and decrease postoperative infection after operation for severe abdominal trauma.</p>