Direct Oral Feeding Following Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy (NUTRIENT II trial): An International, Multicenter, Open-label Randomized Controlled Trial. Issue 1 (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berkelmans, Gijs H. K.; Fransen, Laura F. C.; Dolmans-Zwartjes, Annemarie C. P.; Kouwenhoven, Ewout A.; van Det, Marc J.; Nilsson, Magnus; Nieuwenhuijzen, Grard A. P.; Luyer, Misha D. P.
• Is Part Of: Annals of surgery. Volume 271:Issue 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: early oral feeding -- ERAS -- functional recovery -- minimally invasive esophagectomy; Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003278
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4932

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Patients undergoing an esophagectomy are often kept nil-by-mouth postoperatively out of fear for increasing anastomotic leakage and pulmonary complications. This study investigates the effect of direct start of oral feeding following minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) compared with standard of care. Background: Elements of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been successfully introduced in patients undergoing an esophagectomy. However, start of oral intake, which is an essential part of the ERAS protocols, remains a matter of debate. Methods: Patients in this multicenter, international randomized controlled trial were randomized to directly start oral feeding (intervention) after a MIE with intrathoracic anastomosis or to receive nil-by-mouth and tube feeding for 5 days postoperative (control group). Primary outcome was time to functional recovery. Secondary outcome parameters included anastomotic leakage, pneumonia rate, and other surgical complications scored by predefined definitions. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in the intervention (n = 65) and control (n = 67) group. Functional recovery was 7 days for patients receiving direct oral feeding compared with 8 days in the control group ( P = 0.436). Anastomotic leakage rate did not differ in the intervention (18.5%) and control group (16.4%, P = 0.757). Pneumonia rates were comparable between the intervention (24.6%) and control group (34.3%, P = 0.221). Other morbidity rates were similar, except for chyle leakage, which was more prevalent in the standard of care group ( P = 0.032). Conclusion: Direct oral feeding after an esophagectomy does not affect functional recovery and did not increase incidence or severity of postoperative complications. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text