Perioperative Nutritional Support

ABSTRACT

Malnutrition in surgical patients is a prevalent problem. As the geriatric population gradually increases, surgeons need to be more careful in preventing the risk of iatrogenic malnutrition. Delayed wound healing, exposure to infection, pressure sores, gastrointestinal bacterial overgrowth, and immunosuppression in malnourished patients can be prevented or diminished with active nutritional support. Preoperative nutritional assessment and support, as well as adequate postoperative nutrition, will improve surgical outcomes, which in turn will lead to fewer postoperative complications, shorter hospital stays, and lower medical costs. The success of surgery depends not only on technical surgical skills but also on metabolic interventions that take into account the patient’s ability to deliver the metabolic load and provide adequate nutritional support.