Abstract
Objective: We conducted a study of the self-selection of postoperative diets after gastrectomy to evaluate with respect to patients’ choices, safety, energy intake and nutritional parameters.
Methods: 75 patients after gastrectomy (including 10 with total gastrectomy) were assigned to a program in which they selected their own diets from liquid-formula, thin rice porridge, thick rice porridge, soft-cooked rice and regular diet from postoperative day 2 to the day of discharge, and were compared with patients receiving a conventional step-by-step dietary management (n=25) in terms of their energy intake, body weight changes and blood test results as nutritional parameters.
Results: Of 75 patients, 69 completed the program. More than 75% of these patients chose the thin rice porridge or more solid diet on postoperative day 2. As compared with the conventional group, the self-selection group had a significantly higher energy intake on postoperative days 1-5 and a significantly smaller rate of weight reduction at 1 month postoperatively, but showed no marked differences in blood test results or body weight at 6 months postoperatively.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the self-selection of postoperative diets can be performed safely in appropriately selected patients, and that the increased energy intake during the first week after gastrectomy may prevent early postoperative weight reduction, especially the lean body weight.
