Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Single Incision Plus One Port Laparoscopic Proximal Gastrectomy with Double Channel Anastomosis for Gastric Cancer Treatment
Published on: December 27, 2024
Enteral nutrition prolongs delayed gastric emptying in patients after Whipple resection
M E Martignoni1, H Friess, F Sell
1Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Bern, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
Background:
Delayed gastric emptying is one of the most frequent postoperative complications after Whipple resection. In the present study we evaluated the role of enteral nutrition in the development of delayed gastric emptying after Whipple resection.
Patients And Methods:
Between January 1996 and June 1998, 64 patients (30 female, 34 male) underwent a classic (n = 27) or pylorus-preserving (n = 37) Whipple resection. Two patients were excluded; 30 patients received enteral and 32 patients received no-enteral nutrition.
Results:
Delayed gastric emptying occurred significantly more in patients with enteral (17 of 30, 57%) than in patients with no-enteral nutrition (5 of 32, 16%) (P <0.01). Consequently, patients in the enteral nutrition group had a nasogastric tube for a significantly (P<0.01) longer period and had a significantly (P<0.01) longer hospital stay than patients in the no-enteral nutrition group. There were no differences in the frequency of occurrence of other postoperative complications between patients with enteral and no-enteral nutrition.
Conclusion:
In patients undergoing a Whipple resection, enteral nutrition is associated with a higher frequency of delayed gastric emptying with no advantages regarding other postoperative complications and should therefore be restricted to specific indications.
Related Concept Videos
Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
Gastric Emptying
Peptic Ulcer Disease V: Surgical Management and Nursing Care
Surgical Interventions for Peptic Ulcer Disease
Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:

