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[Early feeding after intestinal anastomoses: risks or benefits?]

José Eduardo de Aguilar-Nascimento1, Júlio Göelzer

  • 1Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Brasil. aguilar@zaz.com.br

Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992)
|February 4, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Early oral feeding after intestinal anastomoses is safe and speeds up the return of bowel function. This approach reduces the time to pass flatus without increasing complications like anastomotic dehiscence.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Innovation
  • Postoperative Care

Background:

  • Traditionally, oral intake post-intestinal anastomosis is delayed until ileus resolves.
  • This practice aims to prevent complications associated with early feeding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of early oral feeding after intestinal anastomoses.
  • To compare postoperative outcomes between early and conventional feeding protocols.

Main Methods:

  • 43 patients undergoing intestinal anastomoses were randomized into two groups: early feeding (oral intake at 24h) and conventional feeding (after ileus resolution).
  • Groups were matched for key demographic and surgical variables.

Main Results:

  • Early feeding significantly reduced the time to passage of flatus (35 vs. 44 hours).
  • No significant differences were observed in morbidity, mortality, or anastomotic dehiscence rates between groups.
  • Vomiting requiring nasogastric decompression occurred in 13% of the early group and 10% of the conventional group.

Conclusions:

  • Initiating oral feeding on the first postoperative day after intestinal anastomoses is safe.
  • Early feeding accelerates the resolution of postoperative ileus without compromising anastomotic integrity or increasing morbidity.
Abstract

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