Early Oral Feeding Versus Traditional Postoperative Care in Emergency Abdominal Surgery

Randomized Clinical Trial of Early Oral Feeding Versus Traditional Postoperative Care in Emergency Abdominal Surgery

The traditional postoperative care after abdominal surgery included the need of nasogastric tube, fasting until resumed bowel function and progressive reinstitution of oral intake from liquid to solid diet. Recent studies have shown no benefits of this traditional management over early oral feeding. Nevertheless, the researches in emergency surgery are scarce.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients over 14 years after abdominal emergency surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lack of consensus of the patient
• Concurrent extra-abdominal surgery
• Short bowel or other clear indication of parenteral nutrition
• Inability to feed orally (eg, decreased level of consciousness)
• Interventional procedure
• Esophageal surgery
• Reoperations
• Pancreatitis