Role of Nasogastric Tube in Gastric Surgery-A Comparative Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Nasogastric decompression in gastric surgery allows better surgical field and leads to reduction of postoperative complications. The placement of a NG tube can be uncomfortable for the patient, if the patient is not adequately prepared with anesthesia to the nasal passages. Some specific instructions need on how to cooperate with the operator during the procedure. Most surgeons traditionally continue to use nasogastric decompression, believing that its use facilitates a better surgical field and reduces complications such as nausea, vomiting, aspiration, and anastomotic leakage caused by postoperative ileus. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to compare the postoperative outcome between the nasogastric tube Group (NG) and the non-nasogastric tube group (NNG). Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, we enrolled 60 patients as study population who had been surgically treated for malignant and benign diseases in the Department of General Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh from April, 2017-March 2018. In total 30 patients (Group I) were randomized into the intubated group and the other 30 patients (Group II) were randomized into the tubeless group. All patients received epidural pain control. Preoperative serum albumin levels, postoperative complications, the passage of stools, mean time to first orally feeding, hospital stay, and cost of hospitalization were recorded. Statistical analysis of the results was done by SPSS version 22.0. Results: In this study, we found a significant correlation in time of the return of bowel sound, time of bowel movement, and time of oral resumption between the groups where the p values were 0.043, 0.004, and 0.045 respectively. The postoperative pulmonary complication was significantly higher in Group I than in Group II (33.3% versus 3.3%), but regarding the paralytic ileus, post-operative bleeding, anastomotic leakage, and wound dehiscence, no significant difference was observed .....