A retrospective comparative study of continuous pumping for home enteral nutrition after esophagectomy

Objective To discuss the effect and safety of continuous pumping for home enteral nutrition after esophagectomy. Methods The current study retrospectively analyzed the esophageal cancer patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy between January 2017 and November 2017 at First Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute. There were totally 108 cases, including 88 males and 20 females, with an average age of 62 years. The patients were divided into pump feeding group (n=56) and traditional tube feeding group (n=52). The postoperative short-term safety, weight maintenance, enteral nutrition tolerance and nutritional support complete rate of the 2 groups were compared by χ2 test, Fisher exact test and t test, respectively. Results Compared with traditional tube feeding group, the patient safety in pumping feeding group was significantly better, with complications within 2 months after discharge were 11/52 and 4/56 respectively (χ2=2.393, P=0.035); the weight maintenance was significantly better, the weight loss within 4 weeks after discharge were 3.90 kg and 0.13 kg, respectively (t=7.720, P=0.000); the general enteral complications were significantly lower (26/52 vs. 5/56, χ2=22.225, P=0.000), the nutritional support complete rate was significantly higher (23/52 vs. 55/56, χ2=39.167, P=0.000). Conclusions Continuous pump feeding enteral nutrition support after discharge postoperatively could help improve patient safety after discharge, which is better for weight maintenance of the patients. Pump feeding could also enhance tolerability of tube feeding and ensure the effective accomplishment of nutritional support. Key words: Esophageal neoplasms; Enteral nutrition; Postoperative care