[Enteral or parenteral feeding therapy. Comparative clinical study]

We investigated 20 patients - randomized into two groups - in a period of six postoperative days. We wanted to prove, whether parenteral and enteral feeding show differences in their nutritional effect. Both, parenteral and enteral nutrition had the same content of calories and nitrogen. The application of parenteral nutrition proceeded via central venous catheter and of enteral nutrition via tube feeding into the first part of the jejunum. There were no differences to be shown between both groups. Changes of the investigated datas from day to day had been typical changes within the postaggression syndrome. It was proven that tube feeding could be started in the early postoperative period. The tube diet was well tolerated and totally absorbed in the intestine. We believe that this form of tube feeding with a special diet may be a definite alternative to parenteral nutrition in patients within intensive care units and after surgery also in the very early postoperative period.