Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of nutrition management mode based on enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS) in the elderly patients with esophageal cancer. Methods From May to December 2021, a total of 100 elderly patients with esophageal cancer undergoing radical resection were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 50 cases in each group. The patients in control group received traditional nutrition management, while the patients in observation group received ERAS nutrition management. The recovery of gastrointestinal function, the incidence of complications, nutritional status and quality of life one month after surgery were compared between the two groups. Results The time to first exhaust, the time to first defecation, the time to getting out of bed and the hospitalization time in the observation group were significantly shorter than those in the control group(P<0.01). After intervention, the levels of serum total protein, albumin, prealbumin and body weight one month later in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.01). The incidence rate of postoperative complications in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(4% vs 16%, P=0.012). After the intervention, the scores of all dimensions of SF-36 in both groups increased significantly, especially in the observation group(P<0.01). Conclusions Preoperative and postoperative nutritional management based on ERAS can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function, improve the nutritional status, reduce the incidence of postoperative complications and enhance the quality of life of the elderly patients with esophageal cancer.

Key words: enhanced recovery after surgery, aged, esophageal cancer, nutrition management, gastrointestinal function