[From the Cochrane Library: Routine use of nasogastric tubes after abdominal surgery is not effective]

The routine use of nasogastric tubes after abdominal operations is intended primarily to hasten the return of bowel function. A Cochrane systematic review of 28 studies, encompassing 4195 patients (2108 randomised to routine tube use and 2087 randomised to temporary or no tube use), showed that routine prophylactic nasogastric decompression was not effective in achieving its primary goal. It also appeared not to be statistically significantly effective in achieving secondary goals, such as the prevention of pulmonary complications, wound infection, and ventral hernia, nor in increasing patient comfort and shortening hospital stay. Routine nasogastric decompression should be abandoned in favour of temporary use of the nasogastric tube.