Disease-Specific Diets in Surgical Diseases

Abstract

Dietary recommendations for common surgical diseases vary widely amongst healthcare centers and is mainly dependent upon provider experience and practice patterns. Despite frequently prescribed nutrition regimens, there is a paucity of quality evidence to support many of these recommendations. We present data for several common surgical diseases including dietary recommendations post-esophagectomy, post-Nissen fundoplication, and post-colectomy. We will also discuss the evidence in diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, dumping syndrome, and short bowel syndrome. Dietary consistency may make a difference in post-esophageal surgery diets. Other past dietary recommendations in diseases such as diverticulitis may not make as much difference. Dumping syndrome and Short bowel syndrome have some newer interventions in timing of oral intake and some medications. Diet may make less difference overall in many routine small and large intestinal diseases, although surgical diseases with altered anatomy, such as gastric bypass or short bowel syndrome, there are definite dietary interventions that will modify the patient’s disease process for the better. More research is needed in many diseases with regard to routine diets.