AIMS AND OBJECTIVES :To assess the feasibility of early enteral feeding in patients who have undergone emergency gastrointestinal surgeries and compare the complications and duration of hospital stay with that of late enteral feeding group.

METHOD OF COLLECTING DATA:All patients in general surgical ward undergoing emergency gastrointestinal surgeries in acute abdomen within 24 hours under critertia will be subjected to 2 groups. Group 1 getting early enteral feeding(E group) by oral or nasogastric 24 to 48 hrs after surgery(POD –2) and group 2 getting late enteral feeding(L group)(more than 48 hrs). After that patients are followed up closely for various complication namely wound infections, pulmonary complications and post op ileus along with duration of hospital stay.

FEEDING MATERIALS GIVEN:Tender coconut water/fruit juices(carbohydrate drinks)+protein powder solution in 2:1 ratio

CONCLUSION:The rates of complications (pulmonary complications(p=0.028), wound infections(p=0.023) and ileus(p=0.049)      and length of hospital stay(P=0.014) was found to be significantly lower in the Early enteral feeding group .