The safety and feasibility of early postoperative oral nutrition on the first postoperative day after gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma

Unlike the wide acceptance of early enteral nutrition after colorectal surgery, little information is available regarding the feasibility of immediate oral nutrition after gastric cancer surgery. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of oral nutrition on the first postoperative day after gastrectomy. From September 2010 to March 2011, 74 consecutive gastric cancer patients received an oral diet on the first postoperative day after gastrectomy. Surgical outcomes, including hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality, were compared with a conventional diet group (n = 96, before September 2010), in which an oral diet was started on the third or fourth postoperative day. No significant differences were found in the clinicopathological characteristics or operation types between the two groups. Average diet start times in the early diet (ED) and conventional diet (CD) groups were 1.8 and. 3.2, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean hospital stay was significantly shorter in the ED group (7.4 vs. 8.9 days, p = 0.004). There was no significant difference in postoperative morbidity (p = 0.947) between the two groups. Gastrointestinal-related complications, such as anastomosis leakage or postoperative ileus, were also similar in the two groups. Overall compliance to early oral nutrition in the ED group was 78.5 %, and an old age (a parts per thousand yen70 years) was found to affect the compliance to early postoperative oral nutrition. Postoperative oral nutrition is safe and feasible on the first postoperative day after gastrectomy. However, elderly patients require careful monitoring when applying early oral nutrition after gastrectomy.