The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Early versus traditional postoperative oral feeding in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Dig Surg 2013; 30: 225–232.

Published: 30th January 2014

Authors: Zhuang C.-L, Ye X.-Z, Zhang C.-J, Dong Q.-T, Chen B.-C, Yu Z et al.

Conclusion

There were seven trials consisting of 587 patients. Early oral feeding reduced length of hospital stay (mean difference -1.58 days, 95% confidence interval -2.77 to -0.3, P=0.009) and total postoperative complications (relative risk 0.70, 0.50 to 0.98, P=0.04).

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