Postoperative nasogastric decompression is not warranted in elective closure of gut stomas and bilioenteric anastamosis: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

To compare the outcome of postoperative nasogastric decompression versus no nasogastric decompression in cases of elective closure of gut stomas and bilioenteric anastamosis. This randomized trial was conducted from 01-01-2006 to 31-10-3006 at Lady reading Hospital, Peshawar on 119 patients admitted for stomal closure or Bilioenteric anastamosis. Group A included 58 patients subjected to postoperative nasogastric decompression and group B included 61 patients not subjected to postoperative nasogastric decompression. Out of 119 patients, 61 [Group A=30; Group B=31] patients underwent gut stomas closure and 58 patients [Group A=28; Group B=30] underwent Bilioenteric Anastamosis. Pediatric age group, oesophagogastric disease, emergency procedures and pre-operative co-morbid conditions were excluded. The male to female ratio in group A was 41 and in group B was 2.851. The morbidity between group A [60.0%] and group B [48.38%] was insignificant [p>0.05]. No mortality was observed during hospital stay in both groups. Length of hospital stay was 7.93+1.27 days in group A versus 6.54+0.85 days in group B. The number of nasogastric reinsertions was in 6 patients; three in either group with a delay of 2.6 days for duration of 3.1 days. Abdominal distension was observed in 12 [60%] cases of stomal closure in group A versus 7 [22. 5%] in group B. In patients undergoing bilioenteric anastamosis the mean stay in group A was no more than group B. Increase hospital stay and complication rates were observed in patients receiving nasogastric decompression compared to those without NG tubes