Abstract
The effects of early feeding for postoperative ileus remain unclear. We evaluated whether the early feeding is safe and feasible in Japanese patients after open bowel resection, and whether early feeding can enhance the resolution of postoperative ileus. An early feeding protocol was applied to 23 patients (Group 1). As a control, we reviewed the charts of 25 consecutive patients who were operated on just before the protocol and whose diet was started by traditional methods (Group 2). Daily examination and interviews of patients were performed. The majority of the patients in Group 1 (87.0%) tolerated the early feeding. There were no major complications or mortality that was related to early postoperative feeding. There was a significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 in the distributions of the time to passage of flatus (median—2 vs. 3 days, p=0.002), the time of the first bowel movement (median—3 vs. 5 days, p=0.001), and the length of postoperative hospital stay (median—15 vs. 22 days, p<0.0001). There was no significant difference in the frequency of postoperative complications between the groups (p=0.44). Early postoperative feeding protocol is safe and feasible for patients who are required colorectal surgery. Early feeding may promote the early resolution of postoperative ileus.
