A Comparative Study of Early Postoperative Feeding versus Conventional Feeding for Patients Undergoing Cesarean Section; A Randomized Controlled Trial
Varisara Chantarasorn MD*, Yuen Tannirandorn MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University ** Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Objective : To compare the efficacy and side effects of early postoperative feeding versus conventional feeding
for patients undergoing cesarean section.
Materials and Methods : Women undertaking uncomplicated cesarean section under regional anesthesia were
randomly assigned to early feeding or conventional feeding groups. Early-fed women were offered a liquid
diet within 8 hours after surgery, advanced to a soft diet on the next meal and then a regular diet. Conven-
tional-fed women were prohibited from mouth-fed for the first 24 hours after surgery, advanced to a liquid diet
on the first postoperative day, and then a soft diet on the second postoperative day.
Results : Two hundred patients were enrolled in the study; 107 patients were assigned to the early feeding
group and 93 patients to the conventional feeding group. There were no significant differences in the demo-
graphic data between the two groups. In all cases, consistent anesthetic method was applied with no intra-
operative adhesion and no post operative complications were observed. The rate of mild ileus symptoms in the
early feeding group was significantly less than the conventional group (19.6% versus 31.1%, p = 0.03). The
early feeding group also had significantly shorter time interval to bowel movement (16.7 hours versus 25.3
hours, p < 0.001), duration of intravenous fluid administration (20.5 hours versus 24.8 hours, p < 0.001), and
overall length of hospital stays (3.3 days versus 4.0 days, p < 0.001).
Conclusion : The study results indicated that the early feeding after uncomplicated cesarean section had
reduced the rate of ileus symptoms and offer potential benefits associated with shorter interval to bowel
movement, intravenous fluid administration, and length of hospital stays. However, management of postopera-
tive feeding requires proper counseling on details of both regimens and flexibilities should be provided to
accommodate early feeding when requested by the patients.
Keywords : Cesarean section, Early postoperative feeding, Ileus symptoms
