Early postoperative enteral nutrition is useful for recovering gastrointestinal motility and maintaining the nutritional status.

PURPOSE: The efficacy of enteral nutrition in postoperative nutritional management is known, but the effects on gastrointestinal motility and nutrition have not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of enteral and parenteral nutrition soon after open abdominal surgery on gastrointestinal motility and nutritional status. METHODS: A partial resection of rectum models was prepared to compare two types of nutrient administration: enteral nutrition and total parenteral nutrition. The differences between the effects of nutrition types in terms of gastrointestinal motility and nutritional status were investigated. RESULTS: Enteral nutrition contributed to recovery of gastrointestinal motility and maintenance of nutritional status. CONCLUSION: Enteral nutrition should therefore be initiated soon after surgery if the gastrointestinal tract is available.