Comparison of early versus late enteral feeding after elective ileostomy closure.

Abstract

Objective: To compare early and late entera1 feeding after Elective Ileostomy Closure in terms of mean hospital stay and frequency of wound infection. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trail. Setting: Department of Surgery, Allied Hospital I Faisalabad. Period: April to September 2024. Methods: Ninety patients undergoing elective ileostomy closure were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group E received oral intake after 24 hours, while Group L began feeding after the return of bowel sounds. Outcomes measured were wound infection within seven days postoperatively and length of hospital stay. Results: Mean hospital stay was significantly shorter in Group E (10.00 ± 3.61 days) compared to Group L (12.93 ± 2.32 days; p < 0.001). Wound infection occurred in 13.3% of patients in Group E and 35.6% in Group L (p = 0.014). Stratified analysis showed consistent benefits of early feeding across age, gender, and BMI categories. Conclusion: Early enteral feeding after ileostomy closure significantly reduces wound infections and hospital stay. It is a safe and effective practice, especially beneficial in low-resource surgical settings.