Traditional Feeding Group Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of Early Versus Traditional Feeding Protocols in Elective Lower Segment Cesarean Sections.

Background Postoperative care following elective lower segment cesarean section (LSCS) traditionally involves delayed oral feeding. However, recent evidence suggests that early feeding may enhance recovery and improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to compare the recovery outcomes of elective LSCS patients between early feeding and traditional feeding protocols. Methods This prospective, comparative study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government Medical College (GMC) Budaun, over nine months. Women aged 18 to 40 years undergoing elective LSCS with singleton pregnancies and gestational ages between 37 and 42 weeks were included. Participants were randomized into two groups: the early feeding group (EFG) and the traditional feeding group (TFG). The EFG received oral intake as early as two hours post-surgery, progressing to a regular diet within six to eight hours. The TFG followed standard postoperative protocols, beginning oral intake after 12-24 hours. Primary outcomes included time to return of bowel function and length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction and complication rates. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with p-values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results The study included 94 participants (EFG: n = 44, TFG: n = 50). The EFG showed significantly faster return of bowel function, with time to first flatus (23.9 ± 6.2 vs. 34.1 ± 8.8 hours, p < 0.0001) and first stool (54.6 ± 8.5 vs. 91.3 ± 12.3 hours, p < 0.0001). Length of hospital stay was shorter in the EFG (4.3 ± 1.1 vs. 6.7 ± 1.4 days, p < 0.0001). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores before discharge were higher in the EFG (94.4 ± 8.7 vs. 81.4 ± 9.5, p < 0.0001), indicating greater patient satisfaction. Complication rates, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and wound infections, did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion Early feeding post-elective LSCS significantly enhances recovery, as evidenced by quicker return of bowel function, reduced hospital stay, and higher patient satisfaction without increasing complication rates. These findings support revising postoperative care protocols to incorporate early feeding strategies.

Effects of intelligent feeding method on the growth, immunity and stress of juvenile Micropterus salmoides

The feeding method is of great significance for aquaculture production and cost. In recent years, research on intelligent feeding, a method based on fish appetite, has been trending. Few studies, however, have focused on fish welfare issues that can result from intelligent feeding. In this study, an adaptive feeder based on a practical intelligent feeding method was designed to evaluate whether this intelligent feeding method would impair fish welfare compared to traditional automatic feeding. The results indicated that the amount of residual feed and size inhomogeneity in the traditional group was significantly higher than that in the intelligent group. The results of the growth indicator showed that the weight gain rate (WGR) in the intelligent feeding group was significantly higher (30.17%) than in the traditional feeding group. Although no significant differences were observed in the survival rate (SR), the condition factor (CF) and the hepatosomatic index (HSI), the specific growth rate (SGR) in the intelligent feeding group was significantly increased by 8.33% while the feed conversion rate (FCR) was reduced by a remarkable 17.07% compared to the traditional feeding group. Moreover, intelligent feeding significantly improved the pepsin activity of the bass. In terms of immunity and antioxidant capacity, however, the fish in the intelligent feeding group had a significantly lower lysozyme (LZM) level than those fed with the traditional method. For superoxide dismutase (SOD), the intelligent group also displayed a lower activity value, although it was not significant. The intelligent feeding group had 0.14 nmol/mg protein higher malondialdehyde (MDA) activity than the traditional group. Regarding stress, although no statistical significance was observed, the cortisol level in the intelligent group was 1.9 ng/ml higher than in the traditional group. Together, these data suggested that the intelligent feeding method can significantly improve fish growth but may also result in stress and suppress innate immunity.

Improvement of Nutritional Intake in Intensive Care Unit Patients via a Nurse-Led Enteral Nutrition Feeding Protocol.

Enteral nutrition in intensive care unit patients has important prognostic clinical value. Feeding protocols are recommended by clinical practice guidelines as a key strategy to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of enteral feedings. To examine whether enteral nutrition in critically ill patients could be improved by implementation of a nurse-led evidence-based feeding protocol. An interprofessional group of intensive care unit nurses, physicians, and a clinical dietitian designed a protocol to address and correct the shortcomings of enteral feeding. Data on feeding and clinical outcomes were collected retrospectively for patients for 12 months before (control group) and then for 12 months after (interventional group) implementation of the protocol. Enteral feeding was started significantly earlier (P = .007) after admission to the intensive care unit in the intervention group (52.3 hours; SD, 42.6) than in the control group (70.3 hours; SD, 65.2). Use of the protocol resulted in a significant increase in nutritional intake; 90% of patients in the intervention group but only 34% in the traditional feeding group achieved their caloric target within 96 hours after admission (P < .001). After implementation of the protocol, cessation of feeding due to intolerance was significantly less (P = .03) in the intervention group (6%) than in the traditional feeding group (14 %), and no adverse events were detected. Adherence to standardized guidelines with a written protocol for an early start and timely escalation of enteral feeding can improve nutritional intake among intensive care unit patients.

Got milk? Effects of early enteral feedings in patients with gastroschisis.

Initiating early enteral intake post-surgical gastroschisis repair may result in better patient outcomes. However, there is lack of evidence and consistency in clinical practice regarding the timing of initiation of feedings, and few studies have determined best practices for post-operative nutritional management. To determine whether early nutritional management using a standardized advancement protocol improves outcomes for patients with gastroschisis. A retrospective study was used, following the implementation of a new early enteral feeding protocol. Patients managed without the new protocol, from January 2007 through December 2009, formed the traditional feeding group, while those receiving post-protocol nutritional management, from January 2010 through December 2012, comprised the early enteral feeding group. The main outcome, measured by length of stay (LOS), and secondary outcomes, including incidence of sepsis, were evaluated; N = 32. There was a statistically significant difference in the scores for LOS (P = .022) and incidence of sepsis (P = .36). No correlation was found between the number of days to initial feeding and LOS (P = .732). However, there was a robust, positive correlation between the number of days to achieve full feedings and LOS (P < .001) IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings support the benefit of early initiation of enteral feedings in reducing the incidence of sepsis. Furthermore, they suggest the time to achieve full enteral feedings, not necessarily the timing of initiation of feedings, significantly impacts LOS. Consideration for future studies include incorporating strategies that combine early enteral feeding initiatives with interventions that allow for quicker onset of full enteral intake.

Early Oral Feeding vs. Traditional Feeding in Patients Undergoing Elective Open Bowel Surgery—a Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveThis prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the safety, tolerability and outcome of early oral feeding vs. traditional feeding in patients undergoing elective open bowel surgery. MethodsA total of 120 consecutive patients who underwent elective open bowel surgeries were randomized into either early feeding (n = 60) or traditional feeding group (n = 60). Patients in the early feeding group were started on oral fluids on post-operative day 1, while those in the traditional feeding group were started orals after the resolution of ileus. Patient characteristics, surgical procedures, co-morbidity, first flatus, first defecation, time of starting solid diet, complications and length of hospitalization were assessed between the two groups. ResultsThe two groups were similar in demographic and baseline data. The number of days to first flatus (p < 0.0001), first defecation (p < 0.0001), length of post-operative stay (p = 0.011) and time of starting solid diet (p < 0.0001) were significantly earlier in the early feeding group. Anastomotic leak, wound infection, fever, vomiting, abdominal distention and other complications were similar. Multivariate analysis showed that patients in the early oral feeding group were discharged 3.4 days earlier (p = 0.037). ConclusionIn patients undergoing elective open bowel surgeries, early post-operative feeding is safe, is well tolerated and reduces the length of hospitalization.

A prospective study of early versus traditional postoperative oral intake after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare early oral intake and the traditional timing of feeding after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.Method: One hundred seventy-eight patients underwent laparoscopic gynecologic surgery at Osaka Rosai Hospital between October 2004 and August 2007, and were allocated to two groups. One group was the traditional feeding group (89 patients), who began clear fluids on the first postoperative day and were advanced slowly to a solid diet. The other group was the early feeding group (89 patients), who also began clear fluids on the first postoperative day and received a regular solid diet. These groups were compared with respect to the incidence of adverse effects, the length of time until passage of gas and defecation, and the dietary intake.Result: The demographic characteristics of the two groups were similar. The incidence of postoperative complications was 4.5% (4 patients) of women in the traditional feeding group and 2.2% (2 patients) of women in the early feeding group. There were no cases of ileus in either group. There were also no differences in the length of time elapsed for passage of gas and defecation, and the dietary intake between the two groups.Conclusion: In our setting, early advancing of diet postoperatively after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery did not increase adverse effects. Early oral intake seems to be safe, and traditional feeding is not necessary.

Early maternal feeding following cesarean delivery: A prospective randomized study

RANDOMIZED STUDY GUY BAR, EYAL SHEINER, ADI LEZEROVIZT, TAL LAZER, MORDECHAI HALLAK, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of theNegev,Departments ofObstetrics andGynecology,Beer-Sheva, Israel OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of early maternal feeding (i.e. eating and drinking) on gastrointestinal function and maternal satisfaction in patients following simple and complicated cesarean delivery (CD). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized study was designed including 179 women undergoing first or repeated cesarean delivery. Patients were assigned randomly by picking one opaque sealed envelope in order to receive the assignment. Women who were assigned to the early feeding group received clear fluids and solid food immediately after the operation, and up to 8 hours following the procedure, according to their request. The traditionally fed women have received clear fluids 8-12 hour after the surgery subsequent to physician examination confirming bowel sounds. RESULTS: Eighty-two women were assigned to the traditionally feeding group, and 97 to the early feeding group. From the patients undergoing randomization, 58.7% had a repeated CD, and 27.9% had abdominal adhesions necessitating adhesiolysis. No significant differences were noted between the groups regarding post-operative complications, such as ileus and wound infection (3.1% in the early feeding vs. 8.5% in the traditional feeding group; P=0.114). Maternal satisfaction, however, was significantly higher among the early fed women (94.4% vs. 78.4% in the traditional feeding group; P=0.008). Most patients from the early feeding group tended to recommend such policy (95.8%), as compared to only 56.0% in the traditional feeding group (P=0.001). Using a multivariable analysis with post-operative complications as the outcome variable, controlling for operation number, no association was found between early feeding and post operative complications at the ward (OR=0.9; 95%CI 0.1-7.9; P=0.949). CONCLUSION: Early maternal feeding following cesarean delivery is not associated with higher rates of post-operative complications. Yet, it is associated with higher maternal satisfaction.

A randomized controlled trial of early versus “traditional” postoperative oral intake after major abdominal gynecologic surgery

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare early oral intake and the traditional timing of feeding after major gynecologic surgery and the effects on the length of hospital stay. Study Design: Gynecologic oncology and urogynecology patients who underwent major abdominal gynecologic surgery were prospectively randomized to 1 of 2 groups. The traditional feeding group (group A, 49 patients) received nothing by mouth until documentation of bowel function. They were then advanced slowly to solid diet. The patients allocated to the early feeding regimen (group B, 47 patients) began clear fluids on the first postoperative day. Once 500 mL of clear fluid was tolerated, they received a regular diet. The groups were compared with regard to length of hospital stay, postoperative day that solids were tolerated, and the incidence of adverse effects. Statistical analyses were performed with the χ2 test, the Fisher exact test, the Student t test, and analysis of variance. Results: The demographic characteristics of the 2 groups were similar. There was a statistically significant reduction in the length of hospital stay for those patients on the early feeding regimen. The median length of stay for group A was 6.0 days and for group B was 4.0 days (P =.0001). There was no difference in the incidence of emesis, ileus, or other postoperative complications between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Early postoperative dietary advancement after major abdominal gynecologic surgery results in a decreased length of hospital stay and appears to be safe, with no increased adverse effects. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:861-5.)

Early feeding after cesarean delivery

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effect of early feeding with solid food in postcesarean-delivery patients.Methods: This was a prospective randomized study of women who were delivered by cesarean under regional anesthesia. Women in the early feeding group received a regular diet within 8 hours of surgery, whereas those in the traditional feeding group were given nothing by mouth for 12–24 hours, advanced to clear liquids on the first postoperative day, and then placed on solid food on the second or third postoperative day.Results: One hundred women were enrolled, with 50 assigned to each group. Early-fed patients received solid food sooner after surgery (mean times of 4.8 hours versus 39.8 hours). Mild symptoms of ileus were reported by 28% of early-fed patients, compared with 20% of traditionally fed patients (P = NS). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications. Early-fed patients had shorter postoperative hospital stays (51.0 hours versus 73.4 hours, P <0.001). More early-fed women reported symptoms of ileus when their surgeries lasted more than 40 minutes, compared with those whose operative times were less than or equal to 40 minutes (41.9% and 5.3%, respectively; P = 0.005).Conclusions: Early initiation of solid food in postcesarean-delivery patients seems to be safe, well tolerated, and may lead to earlier hospital discharge. However, in women whose surgeries last more than 40 minutes, early feeding may be associated with more symptoms of ileus.