Comparison of Complications With Semisolid Versus Liquid Diet Via Nasogastric Feeding Tube After Orthognathic Surgery

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the effectiveness of nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding of a semisolid diet versus a liquid diet after orthognathic surgery. The orthognathic surgery patients were relatively young and generally healthy, without severe medical disease. Of the patients, 26 received liquid feeding (liquid diet group [LG], with an administration rate of 100 mL/hour), 30 received semisolid feeding at a high administration rate (semisolid diet–rapid administration group [SSRAG], 200 to 500 mL/hour), and 33 received semisolid feeding at a slower rate (semisolid diet–slow administration group [SSSAG], 100 mL/hour). We retrospectively investigated the complications of NGT feeding in each group. The incidence of diarrhea was clearly lower in the SSRAG than in the LG. Among patients with lower–gastrointestinal tract symptoms, stool form scale scores and maximum defecation frequency per day were significantly lower in the SSRAG than in the LG (P = .001 for both). Rapid administration of a semisolid diet via an NGT resulted in fewer complications and shorter feeding times for orthognathic surgery patients. The rapid administration of a semisolid diet via an NGT should decrease the complications of NGT feeding and improve the quality of the perioperative period for patients. The findings of this study will help clinicians select NGT diets for relatively young, healthy patients, such as orthognathic surgery patients.