Browsing by Author "Kiloloma, Wanin Othman"

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    The effect of early postoperative oral feeding in patients undergoing abdominal surgery at Muhimbili national hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2004) Kiloloma, Wanin Othman
    TITLE: Effect of early postoperative oral feeding in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a period of starvation ‘nil by mouth’ after abdominal surgery is beneficial. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative complications, mortality, onset of bowel movement and length of hospital stay. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Patients undergoing abdominal surgery at MNH, between December, 2002 to November, 2003, were prospectively randomized to those who started on graduated oral feeding on first day (group 1), controls were on ‘nil by mouth’ regimen (group II). The onset of bowel movement, length of hospital stay, mortality and complications like wound infection +/- dehiscence, anastomotic leakage, intra-abdominal abscesses and vomiting were evaluated. Exclusion criteria included patients who were unconscious, under five children, patients with gross abdominal distension +/- vomiting and those patients on prolonged steroid therapy.