A retrospective study of nosocomial pneumonia in postoperative patients shows a higher mortality rate in patients receiving nasogastric tube feeding.

Pneumonia remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. Though most studies have focused on pneumonia in trauma or special respiratory intensive care units (ICU), we examine postoperative ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients undergoing elective operations. We hypothesized that a study of multiple clinical variables would disclose factors influencing morbidity and mortality in these patients.