Early Oral Versus Enteral Nutrition After Pancreatoduodenectomy for Periampullary Tumors: a Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Background & aim: Pancreatoduodenectomy carries high morbidity rates even in high-volume centers. Postoperative complications often preclude or delay adequate oral nutrition and nutritional support may be required. However, the role of perioperative nutritional supplementation in well-nourished patients remains controversial. There are not any standard protocols for nutritional support after major upper gastrointestinal surgery in these patients and postoperative nutritional regimens depend mainly upon surgeon's or center preference.

Patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy often begin oral intake a week after operation and enteral or parenteral nutrition is used to cover the daily caloric requirements during this period, although their role still remains questionable. The safety of early oral nutrition has been confirmed in the majority of gastrointestinal procedures. However, pancreatic surgeons are quite reluctant to advance oral diet within the first postoperative week after pancreatoduodenectomy due to fear of anastomosis breakdown or delayed gastric emptying syndrome. These two postoperative nutritional regimens, early oral vs. early enteral nutrition, have not been sufficiently evaluated in a prospective, randomized study.