Cancer patients can recover faster from surgery - and potentially save the NHS millions - if they are given liquid food directly into the intestine, say researchers who are presenting at the National Cancer Research Institute Conference on Monday.

Patients with cancers of the oesophagus, stomach and pancreas have been traditionally fasted or are nil by mouth, for up to 10 days after gastrointestinal operations, as surgeons have long thought that nutrition after surgery may be detrimental to patients’ recovery.

But a clinical trial funded by a grant from the Health Foundation, and led by Cardiff University and the University Hospital of Wales has found that if patients are give nutrition directly into the intestine - through a feeding tube - they recover around three days faster than if they were fasted and only hydrated with fluids through a drip.

Patients also developed fewer major complications following their surgery. The trial of 121 patients looked at whether nutrition straight after surgery had any effect on the speed of recovery compared to eating nothing. The researchers now believe that if liquid food is given after all major abdominal and thoracic surgery it could save the NHS millions of pounds.

Dr Rachael Barlow, lead investigator on the trial at Cardiff University and the University Hospital of Wales, said: "In our trial we turned the traditional thinking to starve patients after major gastrointestinal surgery on its head and have found huge benefits. The striking find that nutrients straight after surgery meant patients recovered quicker and tended to have fewer complications has major implications for the UK health system (NHS).

"Importantly patients who were given the nutrition were more likely to be healthier and have a better quality of life in the months after surgery. And may result in a saving of millions of pounds and could mean fewer bed shortages in hospitals.

"A day in an NHS general or surgical ward costs up to £400 and in an intensive care unit it can cost up to £1200 or more. In this economic climate of financial deficits, finding new ways of improving care is important for NHS managers.

"The next step is to find out if we can adopt the same practice in other types of surgery and we are hoping to run more clinical trials in this area."

Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, chair of the NCRI, said: "This result shows that a small change in follow up care after operations for oesophagus, stomach and pancreas cancer could benefit patients and have huge cost saving implications for the NHS. We look forward to seeing the results of further clinical trials to see if the same technique of food after surgery can be applied to patients who have had operations for other types of cancers."

Source: National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI)