Resumen

ROSALES B, Valeria et al. COMPARISON BETWEEN EARLY ENTERAL NUTRITION AND LATE ENTERAL NUTRITION IN THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PATIENTS WITH GASTRECTOMY. Rev. chil. nutr. [online]. 2009, vol.36, n.1, pp. 15-22. ISSN 0717-7518.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-75182009000100002.

Enteral nutrition (EN) is an effective method to meet the nutritional requirements in patients who have a deteriorated nutritional status. Objectives: To compare clinical and nutritional performance oftwo groups: Early Enteral Nutrition (EEN) versus Late Enteral Nutrition (LEN) of patients undergoing to total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Material and Methods: 18 patients with resectable gastric cancer were studied with anthropometric, functional and biochemical parameters to assess nutritional status in the preoperative and postoperative period. They received a polimeric enteral formula (1 kcal/ml) in the postoperative period. They were randomly assigned to the type of nutrition (early or late). Results: The group with EEN had a significant improvement in the bicipital fold adequacy percentage and dynamometry. The LEN group had a significant decrease of albumin. The bloating was more fre quent in the group with EEN. Conclusion: Early enteral nutrition is a safe nutritional support, effective and that brings nutritional benefits compared with late enteral nutrition in patients undergoing to total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Palabras clave : Early enteral nutrition; late enteral nutrition; total gastrectomy; nutritional requirements; nutrient inputs.