Comparison of postoperative course with versus without one-day nasogastric tube decompression after gastrectomy. A prospective study

摘要

The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to find out if one-day nasogastric tube (NGT) decompression was necessary after gastrectomy. A total of 318 patients who underwent gastrectomy were randomized into two groups: one was one-day NGT decompression group and the other was no postoperative NGT decompression group. We compared the two groups in terms of postoperative complications, postoperative course to recovery and patients' complain. No remarkable difference was found in the incidence of complications in NGT and no-NGT groups (27.7% and 25.2%, respectively). There was no significant difference in time to passage of first flatus and postoperative hospital stay between the two groups. Routine one-day NGT decompression is not necessary after gastrectomy.