Early oral intake post gastric surgery

Background: After major gastrointestinal surgery the patient can start traditional late oral feeding (TOF) or start early oral feeding (EOF) which seems to be safe and beneficial with promising results. Aim of study: This study was performed to evaluate early oral feeding after upper gastro intestinal surgeries. Patients and Method: This prospective clinical case series study conducted in Mosul teaching Center for two years and 4 months in which 67 patients divided into 2 groups (36 start oral feeding early and 31 with late oral feeding)and results including hospital stay and return to normal life ,nausea, vomiting, tolerance of oral intake, fever and ileus were observed and the incidence of re admission and complications were recorded. Results: Both groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, with surgeon preference toward traditional late oral feeding after open surgery; there are significant difference in terms of NG tube removal ,start of oral feeding, ileus and hospital stay and passage of gas while no difference detected in terms of nausea, vomiting, tolerance of feeding and hospital re admission. Conclusion: Early gastric feeding is shown to be safe and decrease postoperative ileus with short hospital stay and can be applied safely for patients with upper gastrointestinal surgery.