The effect of post-surgical early feeding on anastomotic leakage, wound infection and hospital stay: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to examine and meta-analyze the studies investigating the effect of early post-operative nutrition on anastomozis leakage, wound infection development and hospital stay. Method: "Postoperative Nutrition", "Postoperative Nutrition time", "Postoperative complications", "Meta analysis", "Serrahi/Serrahi/ Post-Surgical Nutrition, "Surgical/Post-Surgical Anastomotic Leakage" "Surgical/Post-Surgical Wound Infection" "Early Feeding" Postoperative Complication; Using Fasting "Postoperative Anastomotic Leakage" "Postoperative Wound Infection" " and related terms in English and Turkish, studies between 2012 and 2022 were scanned, with the last screening date being November 2022. As a result of the search, 17 studies were analyzed. Selected articles, two independent reviewers and the methodological quality of the studies to be included was evaluated using the quality assessment criteria proposed by Polit and Beck. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3 program was used in the analysis of the data. Heterogeneity of the findings was calculated according to I2 statistics, publication bias funnel plot and effect size according to Cohen. Results: When we evaluated the results of the meta-analysis of the findings, it was seen that postoperative anastomotic leakage wound infection developed and the number of days in the hospital was 1.7 times higher in general in patients who did not use any feeding method until their intestinal activities returned within the first 24 hours after the surgery, i.e., in whom traditional methods were used. (G.A; 1.530-2.098; p= 0.000). Conclusion: In this respect, it was concluded that early feeding after surgery is significant and effective in the management of anastomozis leakage, wound development and the number of days spent in the hospital.