Table 1.

Characteristics of eleven trials of early enteral feeding after elective gastrointestinal surgery

	No of patients		Type of feed	Route of feeding	Pathology (%)			Site of surgery (%)
	Active	Control			Malignant	Benign		Upper	Lower	Hepatobiliary
Schroeder et al, 199113	16	16	Standard	NJ	NR	NR		0	100	0
Sagar et al, 197920	15	15	Elemental	NJ	NR	NR		27	73	0
Binderow et al, 199421	32	32	Oral	Oral	NR	NR		0	100	0
Reissman et al, 199522	80	81	Oral	Oral	NR	NR		0	100	0
Carr et al, 199623	14	14	Standard	NJ	NR	NR		NR	NR	NR
Beier-Holgersen et al, 199624	30	30	Standard	ND	65	35		13	87	0
Ortiz et al, 199625	95	95	Oral	Oral	87	23		0	100	0
Heslin et al, 199726	97	98	Immune enhancing	J	93	7		51	0	49
Hartsell et al, 199727	29	29	Standard	Oral	64	28		0	100	0
Watters et al, 199728	15	16	Standard	J	93	7		96	0	4
Stewart et al, 199829	40	40	Oral	Oral	NR	NR		0	100	0

NJ=nasojejunal tube, ND=nasoduodenal tube, J=jejunostomy, NR=not reported.