Parenteral nutrition in carcinoma of the oesophagus treated by surgery: Nitrogen balance and clinical studies

Nitrogen balance studies and clinical observations were made on two groups of patients suffering from obstructive carcinoma of the oesophagus. In 10 patients (group A) parenteral nutrition with a high calorie and nitrogen content was given pre- and early postoperatively. Five patients (group B) received intravenous dextrose/saline solution pre- and postoperatively with no nitrogen supply. Patients in group A had a positive nitrogen balance before and after operation and had a satisfactory postoperative progress. The patients in group B had a negative nitrogen balance until the resumption of oral feeding and their postoperative progress was not as satisfactory as that of patients in group A.