Method: Perspective analysis of a group of 24 patients with postoperative enteral nutritional support into the jejunum. Pharmaceutical preparations of the polymeric and oligomeric type were administered during a period of up to 10 days after serious operations of the digestive tract by means of a nasojejunal tube and peroperative needle jejunostomy. Results: Postoperative enteral nutrition is a complementary component of nutritional support in combination with parenteral nutrition, while respecting principles of their mutual combination. Administration of enteral nutrition using high-molecular preparations is associated with the risk of digestive discomfort and diarrhoea. A risky primary operation with postoperative enteral nut- rition increases the probability of complications during reoperation. Conclusions: Postoperative enteral nutrition into the jejunum is a safe method if a low-molecular preparation is suitably selected and the surgeon takes into account the risks of the surgical intervention with regard to necessary reoperation. Selection of suitable enteral nutrition increa- ses the costs to almost those of total parenteral nutrition.

        Key words: enteral nutrition – parenteral nutrition – surgery of the digestive tract