Comparison of Early Versus Delayed Oral Feeding after Resection and Anastomosis of Gut

Abstract

Objective: To compare the outcomes of early versus delayed postoperative oral feeding in patients undergoing resection and anastomosis of the gut. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study Place and Duration of Study: Surgical Department of Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jun 2020 to May 2021. Methodology: A total of 30 patients fulfilling the selection criteria were enrolled after taking written informed consent and were randomly divided into two groups of equal numbers. Patients in Group-A received early oral feeding, and in Group-B had delayed oral feeding postoperatively, and the outcome measures were assessed till the patients were discharged. Results: The mean duration of hospital stay in Group-A versus Group-B was 50.94 days vs. 60.74 days (p=0.005), the mean time to passage of the first flatus was 30.61 days vs. 50.48 days (p<0.001), and the mean time to passage of the first stool was 40.59 days vs. 50.48 days (p<0.001), respectively. Conclusion: Early oral feeding following gut resection and anastomosis was significantly associated with the early passage of flatus and stool and shorter hospital stay than delayed oral feeding postoperatively.

Keywords

• Feeding
• Gut resection
• Postoperative complications