The role of nasogastric tube after elective abdominal surgery

Nasogastric tube (NGT) is routine employed after abdominal surgery still in our country and abroad too, but the patients' discomfort is severe and several serious complications were referred as related to its use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pros and cons of routine use of NGT in elective uncomplicated abdominal surgery.

In order to evaluate the routine use of NGT we performed a prospective randomized trial on 100 patients who had elective uncomplicated abdominal surgery: 50 subjects had the early removal of NGT and in 50 patients it was maintained until passage of flatus/feces.

The relevant differences between the two groups were the earlier passage of flatus and feces and the lower incidence of postoperative gastrectasy in the group where NGT was early removed. No statistical difference was recorded concerning the occurrence of postoperative nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, complications and day of clinical release.

The routine application of NGT in elective abdominal surgery could be omitted if the surgeon and nursing team are willing to renounce a useful tool in providing informations about the resolution of postoperative intestinal atony to the patient's benefit: in fact a severe discomfort due to the NGT was recorded in the 70% of our series.