Hot topics in the perioperative nutritional support therapy in abdominal surgery

Abstract

Malnutrition is common in the abdominal surgery and affects the recovery of patients. Reasonable nutritional support therapy can improve the prognosis of patients. The nutritional risk screening should be applied to patients within 24 hours of admission. Patients with the nutritional risk and malnutrition should receive the nutritional support by selecting a good timing and way based on the nutritional support planning. Preoperative fasting all night for the majority of patients is not necessary, patients should be allowed to intake low-concentration liquid diet at hour 2 before anesthesia. Patients with preoperative severe malnutrition should be given 7- 10 days of nutritional support therapy. The enteral nutritional therapy was preferred to patients needing postoperative nutritional support therapy, while parenteral nutrition therapy should be supplied to patients with infeasible enteral nutrition or expected target of 60% for enteral nutrition. Individual nutritional support therapy is not necessary for patients without severe concomitant disease. Pharmacological nutrients such as ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and glutamine are beneficial for abdominal surgery and critical patients, which should be used reasonably. Key words: Abdominal surgery; Nutritional support therapy; Perioperative period