Value of nasogastric tube after colorectal surgery

To evaluate the effect of tube decompression of the stomach after elective colorectal operations, 97 patients were randomly allocated to postoperative treatment with or without nasogastric tubes. Flatus passed earlier in the patient group without tubes. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to duration and severity of postoperative paralysis, as measured by occurrence and duration of nausea and vomiting, postoperative peroral fluid intake and time for defecation. The frequencies of postoperative complications were small in both groups and without any difference between groups. Tube decompression of the stomach does not relieve intestinal paralysis after elective colorectal operations. Tube decompression should be used only in patients with paralytic ileus.