THERE IS NO NEED FOR NASOGASTRIC DECOMPRESSION AFTER PARTIAL GASTRECTOMY WITH EXTENSIVE LYMPHADENECTOMY

Objective: To find out if routine nasogastric tube decompression is ne cessary after radical gastrectomy with systematic extensive lymphadene ctomy in patients with gastric cancer. Design: Prospective randomised trial. Setting: Surgical Department, Taichung Veterans General Hospita l, Taiwan. Subjects: 74 patients with gastric cancer including 11 with gastric outlet obstruction who underwent radical distal gastrectomy. Interventions: After operation, 37 patients were randomised to receive nasogastric intubation and 37 not to have it. Main outcome measures: Morbidity, mortality, and speed of recovery.