One-day nasogastric tube decompression after distal gastrectomy: a prospective randomized study.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Many surgeons in Japan use 1-day nasogastric tube (NGT) decompression after gastrectomy as a standard procedure. This prospective randomized study aimed to define whether 1-day NGT decompression is necessary after distal gastrectomy.

METHODS:

The subjects were 233 patients with gastric cancer, randomized into two groups immediately after distal gastrectomy: one group received 1-day NGT decompression (NGT group, n = 119) and the other did not (no-NGT group, n = 114). The primary outcome measure was postoperative surgery-related and respiratory complications, whereas secondary measures were the postoperative course to recovery and patient complaints.

RESULTS:

The incidence of surgery-related complications did not differ significantly between the NGT and no-NGT groups (21.0 and 19.2%, respectively; p = 0.87). The rate of respiratory complications was 6.7% in the NGT group and 7.0% in the no-NGT group (p > 0.99). The time to passage of first flatus and the postoperative hospital stay did not differ between the groups. Twenty-five patients in the NGT group and none in the no-NGT group complained of nasopharyngeal discomfort (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION:

Considering the physical discomfort caused by the NGT, we believe that routine 1-day NGT decompression is unnecessary after distal gastrectomy.

• Authors: Yutaka Kimura, Hiroshi Yano, Takashi Iwazawa, Junya Fujita, Shoichiro Fujita, Kazuyoshi Yamamoto, Takushi Yasuda
• Journal: Surgery today (Surg Today) Vol. 47 Issue 9 Pg. 1080-1085 (Sep 2017) ISSN: 1436-2813 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 28224234 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Gastrectomy
• Humans
• Intubation, Gastrointestinal (adverse effects)
• Length of Stay (statistics & numerical data)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postoperative Complications (epidemiology)
• Prospective Studies
• Respiration Disorders (epidemiology)
• Treatment Outcome