Prospective, randomized trial on the effect of cyclic versus continuous enteral nutrition on postoperative gastric function after pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy

Enteral nutrition prolongs delayed gastric emptying in patients after Whipple resection

BACKGROUND

Delayed gastric emptying is one of the most frequent postoperative complications after Whipple resection. In the present study we evaluated the role of enteral nutrition in the development of delayed gastric emptying after Whipple resection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 1996 and June 1998, 64 patients (30 female, 34 male) underwent a classic (n = 27) or pylorus-preserving (n = 37) Whipple resection. Two patients were excluded; 30 patients received enteral and 32 patients received no-enteral nutrition.

RESULTS

Delayed gastric emptying occurred significantly more in patients with enteral (17 of 30, 57%) than in patients with no-enteral nutrition (5 of 32, 16%) (P <0.01). Consequently, patients in the enteral nutrition group had a nasogastric tube for a significantly (P<0.01) longer period and had a significantly (P<0.01) longer hospital stay than patients in the no-enteral nutrition group. There were no differences in the frequency of occurrence of other postoperative complications between patients with enteral and no-enteral nutrition.

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing a Whipple resection, enteral nutrition is associated with a higher frequency of delayed gastric emptying with no advantages regarding other postoperative complications and should therefore be restricted to specific indications.

Enteral nutrition support in acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

To review the controversies surrounding the use of nutritional interventions, particularly enteral support, in patients with acute pancreatitis.

DATA SOURCES

Articles were obtained through a MEDLINE search (1966-June 1999). Additionally, several textbooks containing information on the diagnosis and management of acute pancreatitis were reviewed. The bibliographies of retrieved publications and textbooks were reviewed for additional references.

STUDY SELECTION

All original investigations in humans pertaining to the use of enteral nutritional support in acute pancreatitis were reviewed for inclusion. Studies that investigated parenteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis were also reviewed, with preference given to controlled comparisons with enteral regimens or no nutritional support.

DATA EXTRACTION

The primary outcomes extracted from the literature were time to oral feeding tolerance, complications (e.g., infection) associated with nutritional support, and length of stay.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The duration of pancreatitis and time to oral feedings is similar whether patients receive enteral (i.e., jejunal tube feedings) or parenteral nutrition. Additionally, complications, length of stay, and costs are either similar or decreased with enteral versus parenteral nutrition.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests that the enteral rather than parenteral route should be used to provide nutrition to patients with acute pancreatitis. Parenteral nutrition should be reserved for patients in whom nasojejunal feeding is not possible.

Complications of pancreatic surgery and the role of perioperative nutrition

BACKGROUND

According to international guidelines, artificial nutrition may be indicated after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). This clinical study was designed to evaluate whether the route of administration and the composition of the postoperative nutritional support could affect outcome.

METHODS

One hundred patients who underwent PD for cancer of the pancreatic head were prospectively studied. Patients were randomized to receive a standard enteral formula (SEN; n = 35) or immunonutrition with an enteral formula enriched with arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, and RNA (IEN group; n = 33), or total parenteral nutrition (TPN; n = 32). Postoperative feeding was started within 12 h after surgery. The three regimens were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. Tolerance of enteral feeding, rate and severity of postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay (LOS) were evaluated.

RESULTS

Full nutritional goal (25 kcal/kg) was achieved in 84% of enterally fed patients versus 96% in the parenteral group (p = NS). The rate of postoperative complications was lower in the IEN group (33%) than in the SEN (40%) and TPN groups (59%). The severity of infectious complications (sepsis score) was lower in the IEN (5.5) than the SEN (7.9) and TPN groups (10.4; p < 0.05). LOS was shorter in the IEN than in the SEN and TPN groups (16.3 vs. 17.8 vs. 19.3 days, respectively; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients undergoing PD the established nutritional goal can be obtained by enteral feeding. Immunonutrition seems to improve outcome.