OBJECTIVETo compare the outcomes of early oral feeding (EOF) and the traditional oral feeding (TOF) in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer using Meta-analysis.

METHODSThe databases of PubMed, SCI, Ovid, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, VIP and Wanfang Data were searched to collect randomized controlled trial (RCT) about EOF versus TOF in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. The retrieval time span was from inception to June 1, 2016. The studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were extracted and the quality was evaluated by 2 reviewers independently. The Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.2 software.

RESULTSA total of 14 studies with 1 807 patients (906 cases in EOF group and 901 cases in TOF group) were included. The time to first passage of flatus (MD=-16.11 h, 95%CI:-18.27 to -13.94 h, P=0.00), postoperative hospital stay (MD=-1.92 d, 95%CI:-2.83 to -1.01 d, P=0.00), hospitalization cost (ten thousand yuan) (MD=-0.58, 95%CI:-0.71 to -0.46, P=0.00) were less in EOF group compared to TOF group. EOF patients had lower total complication rate (OR=0.68, 95%CI:0.48 to 0.95, P=0.03), in which the pulmonary infection (OR=0.27, 95%CI:0.13 to 0.53, P=0.00), pharyngolaryngitis (OR=0.06, 95%CI:0.04 to 0.11, P=0.00) were lower than those in TOF group, while the tube reinsertion (OR=2.34, 95%CI:1.08 to 5.07, P=0.03) was higher. The incidence of anastomotic leakage, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, diarrhea, and wound infection between two groups was not significantly different(all P>0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups in IgM (P>0.05), while the IgA (MD=0.3, 95%CI:0.12 to 0.48, P=0.00), IgG (MD=2.13 ,95%CI:0.82 to 3.44, P=0.001), CD4+ (MD=3.80, 95%CI:2.55 to 5.04, P=0.00), CD4+/CD8+ (MD=0.22, 95%CI:0.04 to 0.41, P=0.02) in EOF group were higher than those in TOF group. Postoperative CRP decreased rapidly in EOF group (MD=-30.10, 95%CI:-48.07 to -12.13, P=0.00), and IL-6 was not significantly different (P>0.05). EOF patients had higher serum albumin level 5 days after operation (MD=3.27, 95%CI: 2.48 to 4.07, P=0.00).

CONCLUSIONSEOF can promote gas passage and defecation, reduce postoperative hospital stay and treatment costs. Also, it can decrease the incidence of complications and postoperative inflammation, and maintain immune function.