Effects of total nutrient admixture on the recovery of patients with gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of total nutrient admixture (TNA) on the recovery of patients with gastric cancer after radical gastrectomy. Methods The clinical data of 50 patients with gastric cancer who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College between March 2013 and March 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Among 50 patients receiving radical gastrectomy, 26 patients receiving TNA were allocated to the experimental group and 24 patients receiving conventional fluid infusion were allocated to the control group. Patients in the experimental group received the nutritional support therapy using TNA at preoperative day 5 and at postoperative days 1- 5, and patients in the control group received the postoperative intravenous rehydration including water, glucose, electrolyte, vitamins and micro elements. The nutritional indexes [albumin (Alb) , prealbumin, transferrin and hemoglobin (Hb) ] , time to anal exsufflation, incidence of complications (wound infection, anastomotic leakage, blooding and intestinal obstruction) and duration of hospital stay were observed before nutritional support therapy and at postoperative day 8. The count data were analyzed using the chi-square test. The chi-square value of correction for continuity was used when 1≤minimum theoretical frequency≤5. The measurement data with normal distribution were presented as ±s and analyzed using thet test or repeated measures ANOVA. The ordinal data were analyzed by the analysis of variance. Results The Alb, prealbumin, transferrin and Hb in the experimental group were (38. 6 ±2. 0) g/ L, (281 ±33) mg/ L, (2. 5 ±0. 9) g/ L and (111 ±20) g/ L before nutritional support therapy and (38.2 ±1. 9) g/ L, (277 ± 16) mg/ L, (2.3 ± 1.1) g/ L and (112 ± 37) g/ L at postoperative day 8, respectivley. The Alb, prealbumin, transferrin and Hb in the control group were (38.3 ± 2. 4) g/ L, (287 ±34) mg/ L, (2. 4 ±1.1) g/ L and (107 ±21) g/ L before nutritional support therapy and (30.3 ± 2.3) g/ L, (190 ± 41) mg/ L, (1.6 ± 0.3) g/ L and (93 ± 22) g/ L at postoperative day 8, respectivley. There were significant differences in the nutritional indexes at postoperative day 8 between the 2 groups (F =174.042, 95.637, 9.529, 4.919, P <0.05) . The time to anal exsufflation in the experimental group were (52 ± 11) hours, which was significantly different from (70 ±12) hours in the control group (t =-5.176, P <0.05) . The incidence of complications was 15.4% (4/ 26) in the experimental group, which was significantly different from 58. 3% (14/ 24) in the control group (χ2 =6.460, P <0.05) . Patients with complications in the 2 groups were cured by anti-infective or symptomatic treatment. The duration of hospital stay was (9 ±3) days in the experimental group and (12 ±4) days in the control group, with a significant difference between the 2 groups (t =-2.912, P <0.05) . Conclusion TNA can improve the nutritional status of patients after radical gastrectomy in a short time. It could help patients to get through the perioperative period smoothly, and enhance the postoperative recovery. Key words: Gastric neoplasms; Nutritional support therapy, parenteral; Perioperative period