OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of nasogastric decompression tube after gastric cancer operation on the postoperative recovery.

METHODSA total of 174 patients with gastric cancer were prospectively enrolled from December 2009 to March 2011 and randomly divided into non-nasogastric tube control group(n=88) and nasogastric tube group(n=86). Postoperative symptoms, complications, recovery time, and quality of life during hospital stay were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe incidences of nausea(14.8% vs. 47.7%, P<0.01), sore throat(6.8% vs. 38.4%, P<0.01), bucking and foreign body sensation(3.4% vs. 20.9%, P<0.01), expectoration obstruction(36.4% vs. 55.8%, P<0.05) were significantly lower in nasogastric tube group than those in the control group. The intervals to ambulation and flatus were(1.46±0.58) d and(3.11±0.77) d in the non-nasogastric tube group, significantly shorter those in nasogastric tube group[(1.68±0.61) d and(3.75±1.03) d]. There was no anastomotic leak or bowel obstruction. The difference in bleeding was not statistically significant[3.4%(3/88) vs. 5.8%(5/86), P>0.05] between the two groups. The quality of life differed between the two groups(mean score, 3.36 vs. 2.78, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONEarly removal of nasogastric decompression tube is safe and reasonable and can improve the quality of life during hospital stay.