[Value of early oral feeding after a cesarean section]

In order to evaluate the advantages and possible disadvantages of early oral realimentation following cesarean section, the authors undertook a randomized prospective study involving 100 patients divided into 2 groups: A, in which oral feeding remained forbidden until the spontaneous restoration of intestinal function; and B, in which oral feeding was restarted as early as 6 hours postoperatively. The results of the study indicate the usefulness of early realimentation after cesarean section which, in particular, enabled a 4 hour decrease in the time before which flatus was passed and a 5-fold decrease in gastrointestinal problems.