ObjectivesTo explore the effect of preoperative and early postoperative oral carbohydrate on the prognosis of patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.MethodsA total of 184 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from March 2019 to July 2019 were selected. They were randomly divided into two groups: the drinking group (n=93) and the non-drinking group (n=91) using a random number table method. The drinking group drank 5 mL/kg carbohydrate clear drink 2 hours before surgery and began to take carbohydrate orally 4 hours after surgery. The non-drinking group was not allowed to drink for 8 hours before surgery and began to drink after exhaustion. The time to first flatus, first defecation in the two groups were observed. The incidence of complications (including aspiration, postoperative intestinal obstruction, anastomotic leakage, incision infection, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and pulmonary infection), postoperative length of stay and total cost of stay in the two groups were observed.ResultsCompared with the non-drinking group, the time to first flatus (Z=−8.009, P<0.001), the time to first defecation in the drinking group was significantly shorter (Z=−6.263, P<0.001), the incidence of postoperative complications was significantly lower (χ2=12.603, P<0.001), the length of postoperative hospitalization was shorter (t=−5.891, P<0.001). There was no statistical difference in total hospital expenses between the two groups (t=−1.860, P=0.065).ConclusionsOral administration of carbohydrate before and early after colorectal cancer surgery is safe and feasible, which can significantly reduce the overall complications, shorten the length of postoperative hospital stay, and promote the rapid recovery of patients.