Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study explored the effects of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) nursing combined with early enteral nutrition support on postoperative gastrointestinal function in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: Ninety-six patients were randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which received ERAS nursing plus early enteral nutrition, or a routine group, which received conventional perioperative nursing with standard nutritional support. Postoperative gastrointestinal recovery, intraoperative indicators, nutritional markers [transferrin (TRF), albumin (ALB), prealbumin (PAB)], immune indicators [CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, IgA, IgM, IgG], quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), and complication rates were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significantly shorter times to first flatus (2.45 vs. 3.84 days), first bowel movement (3.39 vs. 5.61 days), and hospital stay (8.75 vs. 12.50 days) than the routine group (P < 0.05). On postoperative day 7, TRF, ALB, PAB, CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, IgA, IgM, and IgG levels were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the routine group (P < 0.05). The experimental group also achieved higher quality-of-life scores across somatic, role, cognitive, social, emotional, and global health domains, and had a lower complication rate compared to the routine group (6.25% vs. 31.25%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ERAS nursing combined with early enteral nutrition accelerates gastrointestinal recovery, enhances nutritional and immune status, improves quality of life, and reduces postoperative complications in patients undergoing radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.