Abstract： Objective To assess the impact of early enteral nutrition (EN) on the intestinal motility of patients after esophagectomy.Methods Thirty-five consecutive patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer by a single surgical team from the Peking University Cancer Hospital from June 2011 to July 2011 were enrolled.Patients were randomly divided into EN group (n=20) and parenteral nutrition group (control group,n=15) within 24 h after esophagectomy procedure.Bowel sound recovery time was monitored by auscultation,and the gastrointestinal tract symptoms were recorded.Results Bowel sound recovery time was (45.1±20.3) h in the EN group,and was (56.7±17.0) h in the control group (P=0.082).Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea,abdominal distension,diarrhea occurred in 4 patients in EN group and 3 patients in control group and were alleviated by lowering infusion speed and more off-bed ambulation,and no significant difference was seen between the two groups (P=1.000).Conclusions Early enteral nutrition in the patients after esophagectomy is safe and feasible.Early enteral nutrition does not delayed bowel function recovery or increase gastrointestinal symptoms.