Prospective study of early enteral feeding utilizing arginine after total gastrectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy - Prospective study of early enteral feeding utilizing arginine after total gastrectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy

o differences were observed between two groups with regard to postoperative complication, length of hospital stay, oral intake amount, and nutritional status. The serum arginine profile was similar between two groups: it decreased significantly on 1 POD, and gradually returned to the preoperative level by 7 POD. Importantly, the nitrogen balance decreased over time until 7 POD in the TPN group, while it turned to positive by 7 POD in the EAN group. Furthermore, muscle atrophy accessed by lean body mass decrease was smaller in the EAN group.