PhD Conferral Mr. Boudewijn J.J. Smeets, MSc.

“The effect of enteral nutrition in colorectal surgery”

Bowel surgery involves a considerable risk of (serious) complications. Enteral nutrition around the operation reduced the risk of complications in previous experimental animal and patient studies. This dissertation looked at the effect of enteral nutrition on complications in patients undergoing bowel surgery, and at underlying biological mechanisms. In a large international study, 280 patients were drawn for whether or not to receive food during the operation. This was an innovative concept; although enteral nutrition had no added value for recovery, the study showed that patients do not necessarily have to be sober before surgery. The results of this thesis provide a direction for future research into interventions for reducing complications after bowel surgery.