The clinical value and nursing experience of early postoperative enteral nutrition for patients with cardiac cancer or esophageal carcinoma

Objective: To explore the application and clinical value of early postoperative enteral nutrition (EN) for patients with cardiac cancer or esophageal carcinoma. Methods: 159 patients with cardiac cancer or esophageal carcinoma were divided into early enteral nutrition group (treatment group) and early total parenteral nutrition group (control group) randomly. 80 patients in treatment group were given enteral nutrition by intraoperative transnasal nutrition tube after surgery, 79 patients were given early total parenteral nutrition after surgery. Time of resumption of gastrointestinal function, hospital stays, and the rate of complications were compared between the two groups. Results: Time of resumption of gastrointestinal function in EN group was earlier than in PN group (P<0.01). The incidence rate of gastrointestinal reaction in EN group was higher than in PN group, but had no statistical significance (P>0.05); the incidence rate of postoperative incision infection and pulmonary infection in EN group was lower than in PN group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Postoperative early enteral nutrition for patients with cardiac cancer or esophageal carcinoma could offer adequate nutrition, promote the recovery of intestinal function, improve immunity, and reduce the incidence rate of complication effectively