Early enteral infusion of traditional Chinese medicine preparation can effectively promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after esophageal cancer surgery

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the enteral infusion of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation in promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients who have received surgery for esophageal cancer.
Methods: Of patients who received surgeries for their esophageal cancers in the Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center from October 2009 to July 2011, 100 patients were enrolled and randomly divided into TCM group (n=50) and control group (n=50): in the TCM group, 200 ml home-made TCM preparation was administered via the enteral feeding tube after the enteral nutrition was provided once daily one day after surgery. In the control group, 200 ml normal saline was administered via the enteral feeding tube after the enteral nutrition was provided one day after surgery. Both groups were infused until the gastrointestinal function returned normal. The time to first audible bowel sounds, bowel sound recovery time, time to first flatus, time to first stool, and abdominal symptom score were compared between these two groups.
Results: The time to first audible bowel sounds, bowel sound recovery time, time to first flatus, and time to first stool were 34.68±6.92 h, 60.56±9.188 h, 58.52±8.986 h, and 90.38±15.379 h in the TCM group and 43.04±8.214 h, 68.72±10.180 h, 64.64±10.198 h, and 99.28±15.456 h in the control group (p=0.002, p=0.005, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively).
Conclusions: Early enteral injection of TCM preparation via the enteral feeding tube can effectively and safely promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after esophageal cancer surgery.