[Postoperative small intestine absorption--principles for enteral nutrition]

The intestinal absorption of nutrients is disturbed to an extent dependent on the degree of trauma in the immediate postoperative period. In a clinical study, the d-xylose absorption was investigated in 3 groups of patients after cholecystectomy. On the day of surgery a significant restriction of the absorption could be observed after intraduodenal administration. After gastric and duodenal administration of d-xylose and simultaneous enteral early nutrition a significant restriction of absorption could be observed on the day surgery was carried out. Optimal conditions for early nutrition can be achieved by combining intraduodenal feeding and a continuous decompression of the stomach. In cases of a gastric drainage an improvement of the postoperative absorptive function can be supported by the results of the nitrogen balance. In 4 pigs (type: country race) the step-by-step normalization of the absorptive kinetics could be demonstrated after catheters were implanted into the portal and subclavian veins.