Benefits and limitations of enteral nutrition in the early postoperative period.

BACKGROUND: Preexisting malnutrition has been shown to be a major clinical problem in surgical patients. Surgical stress itself increases the energy expenditure and protein loss making necessary the early nutritional support. Although there is strong evidence that "nil by mouth" is not justified, the data are still conflicting over the role of early enteral nutrition compared with the traditional methods of postoperative feeding including total parenteral nutrition support. METHODS AND FOCUS: This paper deals with the various trials related to early enteral feeding. It also compares this with the possible advantages of total parenteral nutrition as a method of perioperative nutritional support in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.