[Value of parenteral nutrition in total gastrectomy for cancer. A prospective study]

A prospective study is presented in which the impact of total parenteral nutrition (TNP) was analyzed in a group of 27 patients that underwent total gastrectomy due to gastric carcinoma (TGGC). Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group I was formed by 15 patients and was treated systematically with TPN during the immediate postoperative period (POTPN). Group II was formed by 12 patients who were treated with conventional serum therapy during the immediate postoperative period. TPN was administered if enteral nutrition was not viable and/or patients presented complications. Both groups were similar regarding age, sex, previous illness, previous nutritional status (Preop PNI) and surgical technique used in GI transit reconstruction. Morbidity and mortality rates, nutritional status (PNI 5 days postop) and mean hospital stay were analyzed in both groups. Likewise, a retrospective comparison was made between the results obtained from this trial and those from a group of 44 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent TGGC at our hospital a decade earlier and did not received TPN during the immediate postoperative period on a routine basis. When both series and Groups I and II were compared significant differences in mean hospital stay were observed in favor of Group I treated with routine TPN in the immediate postoperative period. There were no differences in the mortality rate when all groups were compared. It was concluded that TPN was useful in patients undergoing TGGC because it reduced postoperative mortality rate, decreased mean hospital stay and showed good cost/effectiveness correlation.