Nutritional Status Between Early and Late Oral Feeding After Esophagectomy

This study supports integrating jejunostomy feeding into enhanced recovery protocols for esophagectomy patients, particularly those at high nutritional risk. However, the transient benefit (malnutrition increased in the late group after tube removal) highlights the need for structured post-discharge nutritional monitoring. Future multi-center trials with larger cohorts and extended follow-up are essential to validate these findings and explore cost-effectiveness, patient preferences, and long-term oncologic outcomes.   

The trial provides compelling evidence that late oral feeding with jejunostomy support optimizes postoperative nutrition without compromising safety. While not definitive, it challenges current ERAS paradigms and underscores the necessity of personalized nutritional strategies in complex oncologic surgeries.

Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Ann Surg 2025; 281:388–394

Volume 281, Number 3, March 2025