OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of postoperative early oral feeding on humoral immune function and clinical outcome in colorectal cancer patients.

METHODSSeventy patients with colorectal carcinoma requiring elective colorectal resection were prospectively enrolled and randomized into two groups: early oral feeding group(n=35) and conventional oral feeding group(n=35). The patients in early oral feeding group were started on oral feeding within 12 hours after operation, while patients in conventional group were started on oral feeding after the postoperative first passage of flatus. Postoperative parameters of clinic and humeral immune function were compared between two groups.

RESULTSSixty-two patients eventually completed the study, including 32 cases in early oral feeding group and 30 cases in conventional oral feeding group. The average time to first passage of flatus[(2±1) d vs. (4±2) d, P<0.01], the first passage of stool [(3.8±1.6) d vs. (6.4±2.5) d, P<0.01], resumption of regular diet [(4±2) d vs. (8.2±2.2) d, P<0.01] and the postoperative hospital stay [(6±1) d vs. (11.7±3.8) d, P<0.01] were significantly shorter in early oral feeding group as compared to conventional oral feeding group. Significantly faster recovery of postoperative humoral immunity was found. Plasma levels of globulin [(24.1±2.4) g/L vs. (22.1±3.3) g/L, P<0.05], immunoglobulin G[(10.8±2.4) g/L vs. (8.7±2.1) g/L, P<0.01] and complement 4 [(0.24±0.09) g/L vs. (0.17±0.05) g/L, P<0.05] on postoperative day 3 were higher in early oral feeding group as compared to conventional oral feeding group.

CONCLUSIONApplication of postoperative early oral feeding in patients undergoing elective colorectal resection is safe and effective, which can lead to faster recovery of postoperative humoral immune function and bowel function, and shorter postoperative hospital stay.