Early oral feeding in patients undergoing elective colonic anastomosis

ABSTRACT

Recent evidence seems to indicate that immediate postoperative feeding if feasible is safe after either laparoscopic surgery or laparotomy. This study is done to assess the safety, outcome of early oral feeding and shows factors affecting early postoperative feeding after colorectal procedures. Between June 2005 and April 2008, 120 consecutive patients underwent elective colonic anastomosis were then randomized into 2 groups. Early feeding group began fluid on the first postoperative day and regular feeding group were managed in the traditional way- nothing by mouth until the resolution of the ileus. The majority of patients [75%] tolerated the early feeding. The time to first passage of flatus [3.3 +/- 0.9 d vs. 4.2 +/- 1.2 d] and stool [4.1 +/- 1.2 d vs 4.9 +/- 1.2 d] were significantly sooner in group 1. Hospital stay is significantly shorter in early feeding group [4.2 +/- 0.2 d vs. 6.9 +/- 0.5 d]. Operative time and amount of blood loss had a significant impact on tolerability of early feeding while age, gender, type of operation, and previous abdominal operation had no significant impact. Early oral feeding after colorectal surgery is safe, tolerated by the majority of patients. Operative time and amount of blood loss has impact on the tolerability of early feeding