To explore the optimal nutritional support mode of early enteral nutrition (EEN) after colorectal cancer operation through analyzing the nutritional status, inflammation index and prognosis.

A total of seventy-four colorectal cancer patients in People’s Hospital of Rugao City from May 2015 to April 2016 were divided into EEN group and parenteral nutrition (PA) group using a randomized table, all the cases undergoing laparoscopic tumor resection. PA group were given intravenous nutrition therapy in ventilation before operation, and EEN group received full enteral nutrition 1 day after the surgery. Nutritional status was assessed using subjective global assessment (PG-SGA). Serum albumin and retinol binding protein, stress inflammatory index including IL-6, CRP and TNF- alpha, prognosis evaluation index for patients including complications after surgery and exhaust time, follow-up index such as patients’ life quality when discharged, all these indexes were compared between the two groups.

Sixty-nine cases completed the study including 37 cases of EEN group and 32 cases of PA group. EEN group’s PG-SGA scores and retinol binding protein after surgery (D3, D5) was both better than group PA, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). EEN group’s serum albumin content in D5 was significantly higher than PA group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Levels of IL-6, CRP, and TNF-α of EEN group were significantly lower than those of PA group in D3, D5, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The exhaust time in EEN group was (54.8±13.2) h, shorter than (68.8±15.2) h of PA group (t=7.989, P<0.01). Quality of life scores of EEN group was higher than PA group [(17.87±1.3) vs (14.37±3.3), t=6.765, P<0.01]. However, the complications between two groups showed no significant difference (10.81% vs 15.62%, χ²=0.351, P>0.05).

Enteral nutrition support can improve the nutritional status, immunity, prognosis and quality of life of colorectal cancer patients after laparoscopic surgery.