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International Journal of Colorectal Disease
Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease 4/2011

01-04-2011 | Original Article

The role of nasogastric tube in decompression after elective colon and rectum surgery : a meta-analysis

Authors: Wensheng Rao, Xue Zhang, Jian Zhang, Ronglin Yan, Zhiqian Hu, Qiang Wang

Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease | Issue 4/2011

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Abstract

Objectives

Nasogastric tubes (NGT) have been routinely used after abdominal procedures, largely due to the accepted tradition, especially in China. However, studies recently questioned the role of routine NGT intubation by stating that it was overused and many complications occurred from its use.

Methods

Herein, we performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis evaluating the role of NGT in decompression after elective colon and rectum surgery.

Results

Four fixed-effect models and three randomized-effect models were used for statistics pooling of the relative risks (RR) for the different outcomes. A total of seven articles (1,416 patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Patients in NGT group had less vomiting (p < 0.00001; RR = 2.85; 95% CI [2.12, 3.83]), less nasogastric tube replacement (p < 0.00001; RR = 3.90; 95% CI [2.34, 6.52]), but more pharyngolaryngitis (p < 0.00001 RR = 0.14; 95% CI [0.08, 0.26]) and more respiratory infection (p = 0.004; RR = 0.37; 95% CI [0.19, 0.74]). No statistically significant differences were noted in nausea, wound infection or intestinal obstruction.

Conclusion

In conclusion, routine NGT decompression did no good to the time to return gastrointestinal function, but increased the morbidity of pharyngolaryngitis and respiratory infection significantly. Routine NGT was not recommended for patients after elective colon and rectum surgery.
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Metadata
Title
The role of nasogastric tube in decompression after elective colon and rectum surgery : a meta-analysis
Authors
Wensheng Rao
Xue Zhang
Jian Zhang
Ronglin Yan
Zhiqian Hu
Qiang Wang
Publication date
01-04-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Journal of Colorectal Disease / Issue 4/2011
Print ISSN: 0179-1958
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1262
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-010-1093-4

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