The ongoing debate regarding optimal nutritional routes following esophagectomy

A significant amount of debate remains regarding optimal post-esophagectomy nutrition. It is well established that enteral nutrition is associated with fewer complications compared to parenteral nutrition, and thus feeding is typically initiated distal to the anastomosis, either via jejunostomy or nasojejunal tube (1,2). It is also common practice to keep esophagectomy patients nil per os for a period of several days to theoretically avoid anastomotic leak and aspiration pneumonia. However, there is no consensus regarding the optimal timing or route of enteral nutrition after esophagectomy.