Abstract
Objective. Early nutritional support in patients with gastric cancer can improve their nutritional status, but the impact on immune function has not been confirmed. This study aimed to analyze the effects of Qihuang decoction combined with enteral nutrition on nutrition and the immune function of postoperative gastric cancer. Methods. 120 patients with postoperative gastric cancer in the study group and 117 in the control group were selected as the study subjects from our hospital at random. Indications of nutrition and immune and the rates of complications were compared the day before surgery and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after surgery. Results. Indications of nutrition except hemoglobin (HB) in the study group were significantly higher than those before operation and the albumin (ALB) and prealbumin (TP) were significantly increased 7 and 14 days after surgery (P<0.001 and P<0.001 versus P<0.001 and P<0.001) and the protein (PA) 3, 7, and 14 days after surgery (P=0.011, P=0.002, and P=0.022) in the study group compared to those in the control group. Cellular and humoral immunity indications in the study group are significantly higher than those before operation compared to those in the control group, and the CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD4(+)/CD8(+) were significantly increased 7 and 14 days after surgery (P=0.027 and P<0.001 versus P=0.008 and P<0.001 versus P=0.010 and P<0.001) and IgA, IgG, and IgM 3, 7, and 14 days after surgery in the study group (P<0.001, P<0.001, and P<0.001 versus P<0.001, P<0.002, and P<0.001 versus P<0.001, P<0.001, and P<0.001). The complications such as abdominal, lung, wound, and urinary infection were also significantly decreased (P chi 2=0.017; P chi 2=0.036; P chi 2=0.041; P chi 2=0.004). Conclusions. Qihuang decoction combined with enteral nutrition can promote the absorption of enteral nutrition with improving the immune and reducing complications of infection.