[Self-regulated intake of food and drinks after abdominal surgery]

106 consecutive patients who had undergone laparotomy were allowed to drink freely from the first and to eat from the second day after operation. Only patients with an operated oesophagus were excluded. Nasogastric suction was not used. Our study shows that if patients are allowed to choose, they like to drink and to eat soon after the operation. They prefer water, juice and soup during the early days. Most of them soon drank more than 1,500 ml of liquids per day. They often start to drink and to eat before the passage of first flatus. Only five patients (4.7%) needed to have a nasogastric tube inserted. We found no major complications associated with our regimen. All our patients are now allowed to drink and eat according to their own wishes.