Comparison of late oral feeding with early oral feeding after stoma reversal.

Objective: To compare early and late oral feeding after ileostomy closure in terms of postoperative anastomotic leakage. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial. Setting: Department of Surgery Unit, Leady Reading Hospital Peshawar. Period: July 2020 to January 2021. Material & Methods: All patients with stoma 226 (113 in each group) were observed. Patients were randomly divided into two categories. In the early postoperative period (within 24 hours of surgery), Group A permitted oral feeding. Group B who preserved "nil by mouth" for up to 72 hours during the post-operative phase. Patients were held null by mouth in the post-operative phase, while intravenous antibiotics and fluids were listed in both groups for up to the duration. In group A within 24 hours and in group B after 72 hours, 30 ml of liquid per hour was started orally. Follow-up was taken after the 7th day post-operative. The frequency of anastomotic leakage between the two groups was assessed and safety was defined based on anastomotic leakage. Results: The mean age in Group A was 42 years SD ± 6.94 for this analysis, while the mean age in Group B was 44 years SD +6.15. In 90 % of patients, more than Group A (early oral feeding) was safe, whereas Group B (late oral feeding) was safe in 86% of anastomotic leakage patients. Conclusion: Our research concludes that early oral feeding is better in terms of anastomotic leaks compared to late oral feeding after ileostomy closure.