Intra-Alimentary Drip Feeding following Partial Gastrectomy

Abstract

Following operation for partial gastrectomy it is usual for the patient to leave the operating table with a Ryle's tube in the stomach and a needle in a vein, through which are given normal saline or glucose saline, and in some cases blood. The dangers of giving post-operative intra-venous fluids has been stressed over and over again in recent years. It is known that a patient can die from too much fluid administered into the venous circulation, one reason being that it is difficult to know clinically how much fluid is needed, and the amount given is therefore more or less guesswork. In the past it was felt that to give fluids into the intestine following an operation for partial