Comparing early versus delayed oral feeding after surgery for perforated peptic ulcers

Early Oral Feeding Versus Traditional Delayed Oral Feeding Post-perforated Peptic Ulcer Repair: A Comparative Study in Egyptian Tertiary Health Care Center

Not applicable Interventional Cairo University · NCT06042933

This study is testing whether starting to eat sooner after surgery for perforated peptic ulcers helps patients recover better than waiting longer to eat.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment120 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCairo University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Cairo)
Trial IDNCT06042933 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the safety and benefits of early oral feeding compared to traditional delayed oral feeding in patients who have undergone surgery for perforated peptic ulcers. It is a single-center, prospective, parallel arm, randomized controlled trial where patients are randomly assigned to either an early feeding protocol starting 12 hours post-surgery or a delayed feeding protocol starting 72 hours post-surgery. The study aims to assess postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, return of bowel function, and diet intolerance as primary outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older diagnosed with a perforated duodenal ulcer who are undergoing surgical repair.

Not a fit: Patients with preoperative refractory septic shock, significant comorbidities, or those presenting late may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved recovery times and reduced complications for patients undergoing surgery for perforated peptic ulcers.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with early oral feeding protocols in similar surgical contexts, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- All consecutive patients, of age 18 years and above, who were

presented to the emergency surgical team and were diagnosed with perforated duodenal ulcer by surgicalteam, were recruited and assessed for eligibility.

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Preoperative refractory septic shock on admission.

  * Delayed presentation more than 24 hours.
  * The presence of neuropsychiatric disease, pregnant and lactating women.
  * Predisposing factors for impaired wound healing (e.g., currently using immunosuppressive agents, or chronic use of steroids), the presence of HIV.
  * American society of anesthesiologists grade iii/iv, or had an alternative perioperative diagnosis.
  * Intraoperatively, after randomization, patients were excluded based on the following criteria: perforated duodenal ulcer ≥20 mm, consistent with malignant ulcers.

Where this trial is running

Cairo

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Peptic Ulcer Perforation
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.