本研究旨在系统评估早期口服摄食（EOF）与晚期口服摄食（LOF）对食管癌患者术后并发症和康复结果的影响。本研究通过计算机检索PubMed、Embase、Cochrane图书馆和Web of Science等相关文献，检索截止至2023年3月的相关文献。使用Review Manager 5.4软件进行Meta分析，比较EOF和LOF对食管癌患者术后并发症和康复结果的影响。本研究共包括14篇文章，其中9篇为回顾性研究，4篇为随机对照试验（RCTs），1篇为前瞻性研究。研究纳入2555名患者，其中1321名患者接受了EOF，1234名患者接受了LOF。Meta分析结果显示，与LOF组相比，EOF组术后首次排气时间缩短（均差[MD]为-1.12，95%置信区间[CI]为-1.25至-1.00，P < 0.00001），首次排便时间缩短（MD为-1.31，95% CI为-1.67至-0.95，P < 0.00001），以及术后住院时间缩短（MD为-2.87，95% CI为-3.84至-1.90，P < 0.00001）。两组在术后吻合口漏率（P =0.10）、术后乳糜漏率（P =0.10）和术后肺炎率（P =0.15）方面没有显著差异。食管癌手术后早期口服摄食可以缩短术后首次排气和首次排便时间，缩短住院时间，促进患者康复。此外，它对术后并发症的发生率没有显著影响。© 2023 Society of Surgical Oncology.

This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effect of early oral feeding (EOF) versus late oral feeding (LOF) on postoperative complications and rehabilitation outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer.This study searched relevant literature published up to March 2023 by computer retrieval of PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. A meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 software to compare the effects of EOF and LOF on postoperative complications and recovery outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer.The study included 14 articles, including 9 retrospective studies, 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 1 prospective study. The 2555 patients included in the study comprised 1321 patients who received EOF and 1234 patients who received LOF. The results of the meta-analysis showed that compared with the LOF group, the EOF group has a shorter time to the first flatus postoperatively (mean difference [MD],  -  1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], (-  1.25 to -  1.00; P < 0.00001), a shorter time to the first defecation postoperatively (MD, -  1.31; 95% CI, -  1.67 to -   0.95;, P < 0.00001], and a shorter hospital stay postoperatively (MD, -  2.87; 95% CI, -  3.84 to -  1.90; P < 0.00001). The two groups did not differ significantly statistically in terms of postoperative anastomotic leakage rate (P = 0.10), postoperative chyle leakage rate (P = 0.10), or postoperative pneumonia rate (P = 0.15).Early oral feeding after esophageal cancer surgery can shorten the time to the first flatus and the first defecation postoperatively, shorten the hospital stay, and promote the recovery of patients. Moreover, it has no significant effect on the incidence of postoperative complications.© 2023. Society of Surgical Oncology.