Randomized controlled trial of preoperative oral carbohydrate treatment in major abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Major surgery is associated with postoperative insulin resistance which is attenuated by preoperative carbohydrate (CHO) treatment. The effect of this treatment on clinical outcome after major abdominal surgery has not been assessed in a double-blind randomized trial. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery or liver resection were randomized to oral CHO or placebo drinks to be taken on the evening before surgery and 2 h before induction of anaesthesia. Primary outcomes were postoperative length of hospital stay and fatigue measured by visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Sixty-nine and 73 patients were evaluated in the CHO and placebo groups respectively. The groups were well matched with respect to surgical procedure, epidural analgesia, laparoscopic procedures, fasting period before induction and duration of surgery. Postoperative changes in fatigue score from baseline did not differ between the groups. Median (range) hospital stay was 7 (2-35) days in the CHO group and 8 (2-92) days in the placebo group (P = 0.344). For patients not receiving epidural blockade or laparoscopic surgery (20 CHO, 19 placebo), values were 7 (3-11) and 9 (2-48) days respectively (P = 0.054). CONCLUSION: Preoperative CHO treatment did not improve postoperative fatigue or length of hospital stay after major abdominal surgery. A benefit is not ruled out when epidural blockade or laparoscopic procedures are not used. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN012605000456651 (http://www.anzctr.org.au).

Is early enteral feeding safe in patients who have suffered spinal cord injury?

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether enteral feeding is a safe technique to use in the acute stage of spinal cord injury. METHODS: We searched the departmental computerised patient database and clinical records for all patients with spinal cord injuries admitted to the Auckland Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU), known as the Department of Critical Care Medicine (DCCM), between January 1988 and December 2000. Patients were included in the study if they had suffered complete spinal cord transection resulting in either paraplegia or quadriplegia. Data was collected for the following variables: length of time to commence enteral feeding, type of enteral feeding, duration of enteral feeding and reasons for interrupting the feed. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were found and were included in the study. Twenty-seven (82%) of the patients commenced enteral feeding in the DCCM, 25 by nasogastric (NG) and 2 by nasojejunal (NJ) tube. Feeding was commenced a median of 2 days after admission and the median length of enteral feeding was 7.7 days. The main feeding complications that resulted in interrupting the feed were high gastric aspirates. One patient commenced on enteral feeding developed medical complications that prevented continuation. Two patients on NG feeding converted to NJ feeding. CONCLUSION: No major complications associated with enteral feeding were seen in this study. This would indicate that enteral feeding can be safely administered in the acute stage of spinal cord injury provided complications are monitored for daily.