Fig. 1: This figure consists of nine sections, with a central Taiji symbol presented in purple and white tones.

The Taiji symbol represents the dynamic balance between intermittent and continuous nutritional support, emphasizing the interplay of different infusion strategies in postoperative recovery. Surrounding the central symbol are various themes encompassing multiple domains, from postoperative complications to patient quality of life and physiological balance, clearly illustrating the comprehensive impact of different infusion methods on the overall health of perioperative patients. 1. Postoperative Complications: This section describes postoperative challenges, including digestive dysfunction, liver function abnormalities, blood glucose fluctuations, and complications related to surgery and hospitalization; 2. Quality of Life and Hospital Stay: Covers key aspects of patient recovery during hospitalization, including mobility, feeding times, and patient psychology, which significantly influence quality-of-life outcomes; 3. Gut Flora: Highlights the central role of the gut microbiota in postoperative recovery, focusing on microbial diversity, metabolite regulation, and the maintenance of intestinal microbial homeostasis; 4. Biorhythm: Explores the interaction between feeding rhythms, circadian rhythms, and metabolite regulation, as well as the role of the gut-brain axis. This section underscores the importance of different nutritional support strategies in regulating biorhythms and facilitating postoperative recovery; 5. Postoperative Nutritional Status and Recovery: Emphasizes the importance of nutritional assessments and rehabilitation interventions, detailing how targeted nutritional support can enhance recovery and health outcomes; 6. Intestinal Barrier, Immune Function, and Infection Rates: Focuses on the role of the intestinal barrier in regulating immune responses, providing barrier defense, and reducing infection risks, highlighting its critical importance in postoperative care; 7. Gastrointestinal Function: Illustrates dynamic changes in intestinal peristalsis, gastrointestinal pressure, and digestive mucosa, demonstrating their significance in the restoration of postoperative digestive function; 8. Digestive Function and Physiological Balance: Concentrates on metabolic homeostasis and physiological balance, detailing their impact on nutrient absorption and metabolic control, which are essential for successful recovery. This diagram provides a comprehensive visualization of the study, covering the systemic effects of intermittent and continuous nutritional support during the perioperative period. Spanning multiple dimensions, from physiological mechanisms to quality of life, it offers a robust visual reference for optimizing perioperative nutritional strategies in clinical practice. (Created in BioRender. zhou, z. (2024) https://BioRender.com/u08b403).