Use of Different Enteral Feeds to Impact on Chyle Leaks in Oesophagectomy

Launched by ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, IRELAND · May 1, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the use of a special type of nutrition feed, called medium chain triglyceride (MCT) feeds, to see if it can help reduce the risk of chyle leaks after surgery for oesophageal cancer. Oesophagectomy is a surgery to remove part of the oesophagus, which can sometimes lead to complications like chyle leaks. Chyle is a fluid that helps transport nutrients in the body, and a chyle leak means that this fluid escapes where it shouldn’t. This can require extra medical care, like keeping a drainage tube in place or even additional procedures. The researchers want to find out if using MCT feeds right after surgery could lower the chances of this happening.

Adults over 18 years old who are scheduled for minimally invasive oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer at Beaumont Hospital may be eligible to participate in this trial. To join, patients must be able to give informed consent and receive a specific type of feeding tube during or before their surgery. Participants in the trial can expect to receive either the standard type of feed or the new MCT feed and will help researchers understand if the MCT feed can make a difference in recovery. This study is currently not recruiting participants but aims to improve care for future patients undergoing this important surgery.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • All adults aged over 18 years undergoing MIO or RAMIO for oesophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma and squamous cell cancer) at Beaumont Hospital will be approached for inclusion.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients will be excluded if
• • They are unable to provide informed consent
• • They do not receive a feeding jejunostomy at or prior to their oesophagectomy
• • Prior or concomitant malignancy that would interfere with this protocol