Supplemental enteral tube feeding nutrition after hospital discharge of esophageal cancer patients who have undergone esophagectomy

BACKGROUND: After undergoing esophagectomy to treat esophageal cancer, there are changes in the normal intake patterns in most patients, with more than half found to have an inadequate oral intake at the time of their hospital discharge. However, the use of home supplemental enteral tube feeding nutrition after hospital discharge in esophagectomy patients has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of 90-day home supplemental enteral tube feeding nutrition in esophagectomy patients. METHODS: This single-center, prospective, and single-arm study evaluated the feasibility of using supplemental tube feeding nutrition intervention for 90 days in esophageal cancer patients who have undergone esophagectomy. RESULTS: This study enrolled 24 post-esophagectomy patients between February 2015 and September 2016. Twenty patients were administered 70% or more of the planned nutrient, with 83% of the patients completing the nutritional intervention procedure. There were no grade 3/4 adverse events observed, with a mean body weight change of − 7.6 ± 6.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that routine use of 90-day home supplemental enteral tube feeding nutrition after hospital discharge for esophagectomy patients was both feasible and acceptable. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000016286.