ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Traditionally, nasogastric decompression has been a routine procedure following major abdominal surgery or gastrointestinal surgery. This prospective, randomized controlled trial was performed in order to evaluate the usefulness of nasogastric decompression following elective gastric cancer surgery. METHODS: This study was carried out prospectively. A total of 95 patients were randomly divided into two groups, group I (45 patients with nasogatric tube) and group II (50 patients without nasogastric tube). Patients receiving emergency surgery due to gastric outlet obstruction were excluded from this study. The data was analysed by chi-square test, T-test and Mann-Whitney U test with the level of significance set at P<0.05. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the two groups in regards to nausea, vomting, distension, anastomotic leak or wound dehiscence. However, longer hospital stay, delayed passage of flatus, delayed initiation of ambulation, delayed start of feeding and sore throat occurred more often in group I patients than in group II patients. CONCLUSION: The result showed that the routine prophylactic use of nasogastric decompression following gastric cancer surgery is an unnecessary procedure and does not offer any considerable advantage.