[Pre-operative nutrition support in patients waiting for digestive surgery at Hospital Mateu Orfila (Maó-Menorca)].

Abstract

Malnutrition is associated with high postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a peri-operative nutritional support programme for patients who were about to undergo major gastrointestinal surgery. A high-calorie/high-protein enteral formula was administered peri-operatively to the group of patients at nutritional risk/with malnutrition (NR/MN). In order to assess the effectiveness of the preoperative nutritional intervention, the results were compared to a retrospective control group. Statistically-significant differences were found between the two NR/MN groups in incidence of vomiting; wound infection; hyperglycaemia; death in hospital; length of hospital stay; time in ICU; and administration of TPN. Postoperative progress was found to be better in the group of NR/MN patients supplemented preoperatively with an enteral nutrition formula.