Early Oral Feeding After a Gynaecologic Oncologic Laparotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• To investigate the relationship between the different policies of realimentation (early oral feedings versus traditional feedings) and the length of hospital stay following a laparotomy in patients with gynecologic oncologic disease.
• To assess the degree of postoperative abdominal pain in these patients.
• To evaluate the incidence of ileus symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, and the postoperative recovery of intestinal activity in these patients.
• To determine the incidence of postoperative complications in these patients.
• To elucidate the global postoperative patient's satisfaction and the quality of life in both groups of patients.

OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to laparotomy with or without intestinal resection (yes vs no), and presence of ovarian cancer (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups at the end of surgery.

• Group 1 (early feeding): Patients are offered a liquid diet on day 1 for 24 hours following surgery. Beginning on day 2, patients who tolerate a liquid diet are offered a regular diet until hospital discharge.
• Group 2 (traditional feeding): Patients are offered nothing by mouth on days 1 and 2 following surgery. Beginning on day 3, patients are offered a liquid diet for 24 hours. Beginning on day 4, patients who tolerate a liquid diet (i.e., no nausea and vomiting) are offered a semi-solid diet for 24 hours. Beginning on day 5, patients who tolerate a semi-solid diet are offered a light regular diet until hospital discharge.