Screening and assessment of nutritional status and some related factors in patients who have laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer

Abstract

Background: Preoperative malnutrition is a significant problem for cancer and colon cancer patients, so screening, monitoring, and supporting this condition becomes increasingly essential in the surgical field. In colorectal cancer, malnutrition is significantly associated with several consequences, including mortality and increasing the length of hospital stay after surgery. The NRS 2002 and SGA scores are practical malnutrition assessment tools widely used in clinical practice today. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 53 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery due to colon cancer at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital and Hue Central Hospital. The NRS-2002 tool was used for risk screening, and the SGA was used to assess the patient’s nutritional status. Information about the disease and related factors are referenced from medical records combined with asking the patient. Results: The average age was 61.5±14.5, of which 50.9% were male. ASA 1 accounted for the majority at 66.0%. Complications of surgical site infection accounted for 11.3%. Two patients with subcutaneous emphysema accounted for 3.8%, and one with urinary retention accounted for 1.9% were treated with conservative treatment. One patient had early postoperative small bowel obstruction due to abdominal drainage and was successfully treated medically, accounting for 1.9%. There were no major complications requiring reoperation and short-term mortality. The average hospital stay was 7.4 ± 2.1 days. According to the 2002 NRS score, there were 19 (35.8%) cases of nutritional at-risk; the SGA rating had 1.9% SGA-C and 15.1% SGA-B cases. There was a relationship between NRS-2002 and the patient’s blood albumin concentration. Conclusion: The prevalence of patients at nutritional risk and malnutrition is quite common. It is necessary to carry out routine screening and nutritional risk assessment to support colon cancer treatment. Key words: malnutrition, colorectal cancer, NRS 2002, SGA score.