The effects of early and late feeding on healing of esophageal anastomoses: An experimental study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of postoperative late and early feeding on the healing of experimental esophageal anastomosis (EA). Methods: Twelve New Zealand rabbits were divided equally into 2 groups: late feeding (LF) and early feeding (EF). A 1-cm-length of the cervical esophagus was resected through a cervical incision, and then anastomosis was performed. The LF group was fed parenterally for 6 days and orally (per oral route) after esophagography on postoperative day 7 as long as there was no esophageal leakage. The EF group was fed orally (per oral route) 24 h after esophageal repairs (ERs), and esophagography was carried out on postoperative day 7 to check the ERs. The rabbits were sacrificed to evaluate bursting pressure (BP), diameter of the esophageal lumen (DOTEL), tissue hydroxyproline (HP), and wound healing scores (WHSs) in the anastomosis lines 8 weeks later. Results: In the LF group, BP and DOTEL were significantly lower than they were in the EF group, and HP was significantly higher than it was in the EF group. WHSs in the LF group were not higher than they were in the EFgroup. Conclusions: Early feeding is superior after EA as shown by increased DOTEL and BP levels, but causes decreased HP levels. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.