AIM:To discuss the clinical significance of postoperativegastrointestinal decompression in operation on lowerdigestive tract.METHODS:Three hundred and sixty-eight patients withexcision and anastomosis of lower digestive tract weredivided into two groups,i.e.the group with postoperativegastrointestinal decompression and the group withoutpostoperative gastrointestinal decompression.Clinicaltherapeutic outcome and incidence of complication werecompared between two groups.Furthermore,aninvestigation on application of gastrointestinal decompressionwas carried out among 200 general surgeons.RESULTS:The volume of gastric juice in decompressiongroup was about 200 mL every day after operation.Bothgroups had a lower girth before operation than every dayafter operation.No difference in length of the first passageof gas by anus and defecation after operation was foundbetween two groups.The overall incidence ofcomplications was obviously higher in decompressiongroup than in non-decompression group (28% vs 8.2%,P<0.001).The incidence of pharyngolaryngitis was up to23.1%.There was also no difference between two groupsregarding the length of hospitalization after operation.The majority (97.5%) of general surgeons held thatgastrointestinal decompression should be placed tillpassage of gas by anus,and only 2.5% of surgeonsthought that gastrointestinal decompression should beplaced for 2-3 d before passage of gas by anus.Nobody(0%) deemed it unnecessary for placing gastrointestinalcompression after operation.CONCLUSION:Application of gastrointestinal decompressionalter excision and anastomosis of lower digestive tract cannoteffectively reduce gastrointestinal tract pressure and has noobvious effect on preventing postoperative complications.Onthe contrary,it may increase the inddence of pharyngolaryngitisand other complications.Therefore,it is more beneficial tothe recovery of patients without undergoing gastrointestinaldecompression. AIM: To discuss the clinical significance of postoperative gastrointestinal decompression in operation on lower digestive tract. METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-eight patients withexcision and anastomosis of lower digestive tract weredivided into two groups, iethe group with postoperative gastrointestinal decompression and the group withoutpostoperative gastrointestinal decompression. Clinical therapeutic outcome and incidence of complication were clamped between two groups. Frthermore, an investigation on application of gastrointestinal decompression was carried out among 200 general surgeons. RESULTS: The volume of gastric juice in decompression group was about 200 mL every day after operation. operation than every day after operation. No difference in length of the first passage of gas by anus and defecation after operation was found between two groups. The overall incidence ofcomplications was obviously higher in decompression group than in non-decompression group (28% vs 8.2%, P <0.001). The incidence of pharyngolaryngitis was up to 23.1%. There was no difference between two groupsregarding the length of hospitalization after operation. Majority (97.5%) of the general surgeons held that gastrotrointestinal decompression should be placed tillpassage of gas by anus, and only 2.5% of surgeon sthought that gastrointestinal decompression should be placed for 2-3 d before passage of gas by anus. Nobody (0%) deemed it unnecessary for placing gastrointestinalcompression after operation.CONCLUSION: Application of gastrointestinal decompressional excision and anastomosis of lower digestive tract cannoteffectively reduce gastrointestinal tract pressure and has noobvious effect on preventing postoperative complications. Onthe contrary, it may increase the inddence of pharyngolaryngitisand other complications. herefore, it is more beneficial tothe recovery of patients without undergoing gastrointestinaldecompression.