Comparing early oral feeding with traditional oral feeding in upper gastrointestinal surgery Üst gastrointestinal cerrahi sonras›nda erken oral beslenme ile geleneksel oral beslenmenin karfl›laflt›r›lmas›

Traditionally after abdominal surgery, the passage of flatus or bowel movement is considered the clinical evidence for starting an oral diet. The resolution of post-operative ileus defined by the passage of flatus usually occurs within five days (1, 2). Post-operative dysmotility predominantly affects the stomach and colon, with the small bowel recovering normal function 4-8 hours after laparotomy (3). Then the stomach is decompressed with a nasogastric tube and intravenous fluids are given, with oral feeding being introduced as the gastric dysmotility resolves (3). The rationale of nil by mouth is to prevent post-operative nausea and vomiting and to protect the anastomosis, giving it time to heal before being stressed by food. However, it is unclear for how long the deferral of enteral feeding is beneficial (3).