Trial of Low Residue Diet Versus Clear Liquids Following Elective Colorectal Surgery

Offering patients, a low residue diet on the first postoperative day (POD1) after colorectal surgery is safe and improves surgical outcomes and postoperative hospital stay. Early use of low solid is superior to clear liquid diet after elective colorectal surgery.

The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate whether providing a patient a solid diet from postoperative day zero is superior to clear liquids. The primary endpoint measured will be patient tolerability, as evidenced by absence of vomiting. The secondary endpoints measured will be duration of supplemental intravenous hydration needed, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications, and intestinal rate measured by Abstats.

Abstats™ consists of a disposable plastic device embedded with a microphone that adheres to the abdominal wall and connects to a computer measuring acoustic event rates. The monitor will be placed on the patient's abdomen 30 minutes prior to surgery in the preoperative holding area to obtain baseline intestinal rate. The monitor will be removed prior to surgery and replaced by the surgical team in the operating room and maintained until postoperative day 3. Daily intestinal rate will be calculated as mean and median acoustic events per minute. The raw data will be analyzed by an investigator blinded to the clinical data. Intestinal rates of patients offered immediate solid feeds will be compared with those offered clear feeds. In addition, patients not tolerating or consuming early solid meal will be compared with those who do to identify whether Abstat™ can be an early predictor of diet intolerance in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

Patients will be assigned into one of two groups:

Group I - Clear liquids on postoperative day zero immediately upon return to the floor and subsequent days' advancement of enteral diet to regular diet is as per discretion of the attending physician.

Group II - Regular diet from postoperative day zero immediately upon return to floor and onwards.

Three questionnaires assessing quality of life are to be completed by the patient, during his/her hospital stay. On postoperative day one, a self-administered questionnaire is to be completed by the patient. Please see appendix A for the questionnaire details. The same questionnaire is administered on postoperative day two and again on the last day of hospitalization.

Inclusion criteria

• Able to freely give written informed consent to participate in the study and have signed the Informed Consent Form;
• Males or females, >18 years of age inclusive at the time of study screening;
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class I-III;
• Colorectal surgery (open and/or robotic/laparoscopic);
• Elective Surgery

Exclusion criteria

• Mentally incompetent or unable or unwilling to provide informed consent or comply with study procedures.
• Children <18 years of age.
• Pre-operative clinical diagnosis of intestinal obstruction.
• Pre-existing known upper gastrointestinal disorders including hiatus hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer disease.
• Pre-existing oropharyngeal disorders such as stomatitis, altered taste sensations.
• Colorectal surgery with concomitant resectional surgery of the stomach or proximal jejunum (small bowel).
• Pregnant patients.
• Bedbound or moribund patients.
• Pre-existing history of clinical depression.
• Epidural analgesia.
• Surgical procedures completed after 4pm
• Patients taking narcotics prior to elective colorectal surgery

Exclusion criteria

After randomization:

• Postoperative diagnosis of intra-abdominal sepsis, including anastomotic leaks.
• Postoperative complications requiring early reoperation within the same hospital stay.