Outcomes of Early Oral Feeding Compared to Delayed Feeding in Children after Elective Distal Bowel Anastomosis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastrointestinal Surgery
• Clinical Nutrition

Background:

• Traditional practice delays oral feeds post-distal bowel anastomosis until peristalsis is confirmed.
• The safety of early feeding regimens in pediatric patients is not well-established.
• This study investigates early versus delayed feeding in children undergoing elective intestinal anastomosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the safety and efficacy of early oral feeding versus delayed feeding in pediatric patients undergoing elective distal bowel anastomosis.
• To evaluate key clinical outcomes including abdominal distension, vomiting, surgical site infection, analgesia duration, hospital stay, and readmission rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, multicentric cohort study involving 58 pediatric patients.
• Group A: Oral feeds initiated within 6 hours post-surgery.
• Group B: Delayed oral feeding.
• Comparison of outcomes between the two groups.

Main Results:

• Early feeding (Group A) was associated with significantly shorter duration of analgesia (1.9 vs. 4.01 days) and hospital stay (3.38 vs. 5.0 days).
• Incidence of abdominal distension, vomiting, surgical site infection, and readmissions were lower in the early feeding group, though not statistically significant.
• 58 patients were analyzed: 26 in Group A and 32 in Group B.

Conclusions:

• Early oral feeding can be safely implemented following elective distal bowel anastomosis in pediatric patients.
• Early feeding is linked to reduced analgesia requirements and shorter hospitalizations.
• This practice may improve patient recovery and resource utilization in pediatric surgery.