Review: early feeding after major gynaecological surgery is safe except for an increase in nausea
K Charoenkwan
Dr K Charoenkwan, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; kicharoe@mail.med.cmu.ac.th
QUESTION
In women having major abdominal gynaecological surgery, does early initiation of oral intake of food and fluids increase postoperative complications more than delayed initiation?
METHODS
Data sources:
Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group’s specialised register of controlled trials, Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (to April 2007); reference lists; and experts.
Study selection and assessment:
randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared early (<24 h) with delayed (>24 h, after resolution of postoperative ileus) initiation of oral intake of food and fluids after major open gynaecological surgery. Excluded were trials that were quasi-randomised or had no clear random allocation criteria; had important violations of the randomisation procedure or exclusions …
