简介：Objective:Toexploretheeffectofearlyenteralnutrition(EN)onpostoperativenutritionalstatus,intestinalpermeability,andimmunefunctioninelderlypatientswithesophagealcancerorcardiaccancer.Methods:Atotalof96patientswithesophagealcancerorcardiaccancerwhounderwentsurgicaltreatmentinourhospitalfromJune2007toDecember2010wereenrolledinthisstudy.TheyweredividedintoENgroup(n=50)andparenteralnutrition(PN)group(n=46)basedonthenutritionsupportmodes.Thebodyweight,timetofirstflatus/defecation,averagehospitalstay,complicationsandmortalityafterthesurgeryaswellastheliverfunctionindicatorswererecordedandanalyzed.Peripheralbloodsampleswerecollectedonthedays1,4and7aftersurgery.Theplasmadiamineoxidase(DAO)activityandD-lactatelevelweredeterminedtoassesstheintestinalpermeability.TheplasmaendotoxinlevelsweredeterminedusingdynamicturbidimetricassaytoassesstheprotectiveeffectofENonintestinalmucosalbarrier.Thepostoperativebloodlevelsofinflammatorycytokinesandimmunoglobulinsweredeterminedusingenzyme-linkedimmunosorbentassay(ELISA).Results:Afterthesurgery,thetimetofirstflatus/defecation,averagehospitalstay,andcomplicationsweresignificantlylessintheENgroupthanthoseinthePNgroup(P<0.05),whereastheENgrouphadsignificantlyhigheralbuminlevelsthanthePNgroup(P<0.05).Onthe7thpostoperativeday,theDAOactivity,D-lactatelevelandendotoxincontentsweresignificantlylowerintheENgroupthanthoseinthePNgroup(allP<0.05).Inaddition,theENgrouphadsignificantlyhigherIgA,IgG,IgM,andCD4levelsthanthePNgroup(P<0.05)butsignificantlylowerIL-2,IL-6,andTNF-αlevels(P<0.05).Conclusions:Inelderlypatientswithesophagealcancerorcardiaccancer,earlyENaftersurgerycaneffectivelyimprovethenutritionalstatus,protectintestinalmucosalbarrier(byreducingplasmaendoxins),andenhancetheimmunefunction