Perioperative Nutrition: Recommendations from the ESPEN Expert Group

Dileep N. Lobo, Luca Gianotti, Alfred Adiamah, Rocco Barazzoni, Nicolaas E. P. Deutz, Ketan Dhatariya, Paul L. Greenhaff, Michael Hiesmayr, Dorthe Hjort Jakobsen, Stanisław Kłęk, Zeljko Krznaric, Olle Ljungqvist, Donald C. McMillan, Katie E. Rollins, Marina Panisic Sekeljic, Richard J. E. Skipworth, Zeno Stanga, Audrey Stockley, Ralph Stockley, Arved Weimann

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

170 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Background and aims: Malnutrition has been recognized as a major risk factor for adverse postoperative outcomes. The ESPEN Symposium on perioperative nutrition was held in Nottingham, UK, on 14-15 October 2018 and the aims of this document were to highlight the scientific basis for the nutritional and metabolic management of surgical patients.
Methods: This paper represents the opinion of experts in this multidisciplinary field and those of a patient and caregiver, based on current evidence. It highlights the current state of the art.
Results: Surgical patients may present with varying degrees of malnutrition, sarcopenia, cachexia, obesity and myosteatosis. Preoperative optimization can help improve outcomes. Perioperative fluid therapy should aim at keeping the patient in as near zero fluid and electrolyte balance as possible. Similarly, glycemic control is especially important in those patients with poorly controlled diabetes, with a stepwise increase in the risk of infectious complications and mortality per increasing HbA1c. Immobilization can induce a decline in basal energy expenditure, reduced insulin sensitivity, anabolic resistance to protein nutrition and muscle strength, all of which impair clinical outcomes. There is a role for pharmaconutrition, pre-, pro- and syn-biotics, with the evidence being stronger in those undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal cancer.
Conclusions: Nutritional assessment of the surgical patient together with the appropriate interventions to restore the energy deficit, avoid weight loss, preserve the gut microbiome and improve functional performance are all necessary components of the nutritional, metabolic and functional conditioning of the surgical patient.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3211-3227
Number of pages17
JournalClinical Nutrition
Volume39
Issue number11
Early online date18 Apr 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2020

Keywords

  • Malnutrition
  • Nutritional assessment
  • Nutritional intervention
  • Perioperative care
  • Perioperative nutrition
  • Sarcopenia

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