It is usual for doctors to recommend that patients who have just undergone major surgery stay away from solid food for several days and then slowly revert to a normal diet. But recent research has shown that starting a normal diet after major gynaecological surgery appears safe, and may even cut the patient's hospital stay.
The researchers from the University of Alberta in Edmonton studied 96 patients who underwent major abdominal gynaecologic surgery. Forty-nine of the patients were given the traditional postoperative routine i.e. no food until bowel function returned, followed by a gradual advancement to a normal diet of solid food. A separate group of 47 patients were put on an early postoperative feeding regimen, which consisted of clear liquids on the first day after the surgery, followed by a regular diet.
They found that patients in the early feeding group had a shorter hospital stay, with half staying in the hospital for four days or longer, compared to the traditional feeding group, among whom half stayed in the hospital for six days or longer. Moreover, there were no differences between the two groups in the incidence of postoperative complications, including vomiting and intestinal obstruction. There was a slight decrease in infection rate in the early feeding group.
The findings do not support the "tradition" of barring solid food after major surgery due to the concern that intestinal blockage will occur. The length of hospital stay after abdominal surgery is closely related to the introduction of solid foods. Early feeding after major surgery with a decreased hospital stay may reduce the cost of treatment.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, May 2002, Vol. 186 (5)