Low Food Consumption Interferes with the Nutritional Status of Surgical Patients with Neoplasia of the Gastrointestinal Tract.

Abstract

Nutritional support strongly influence the nutritional status of the surgical neoplastic patients. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of food consumption on the perioperative nutritional status of hospitalized patients with neoplasia of the upper (UGIT) and lower (LGIT) gastrointestinal tract.

Method: Observational, longitudinal, and prospective study. Data collected: food consumption, Subjective Global Assessment, anthropometry, laboratory tests.

Results: Eighty patients were followed up: 43 (54%) in the UGIT and 37 (46%) in the LGIT. The consumption in the perioperative period was lower than the usual consumption in the UGIT and LGIT groups, respectively, of energy (14.2 ± 6.5; 22.8 ± 11.2 Kcal/kg/d, p < 0.001; 13.6 ± 1.2; 19.0 ± 2.0 Kcal/kg/d; p = 0.014), protein (1.1 ± 0.7; 0.6 ± 0.3 g/kg/d, p < 0.001; 0.8 ± 0.1; 0.5 ± 0.1 g/kg/d; p = 0.058), selenium, zinc and copper. Most patients presented in the UGIT and LGIT groups, respectively, worsening malnutrition and muscle depletion according to the Subjective Global Assessment (61.9%; 51.4%) and hypoalbuminemia, mainly in the UGIT in the postoperative.

Conclusion: Low food consumption during the perioperative period associated with prolongation of the postoperative fasting period worsens the nutritional status of patients undergoing surgery of the gastrointestinal tract for neoplasia, especially in the UGIT group.