Enteral nutrition support for children with surgical pathology over the periooperative period

Introduction. The results of treatment of children who are preparing or have already undergone major surgery depend on many factors, including the nutritional status — the presence/absence of malnutrition. Aim: to assess the nutritional risk and nutritional status in children with surgical diseases during pre- and postoperative periods. Materials and methods. A prospective, single-center, non-comparative study included 60 children aged from 1 month to 17.5 years with diseases of the esophagus, intestines, urogenital system, admitted for surgical treatment. In all patients, the anamnestic data of life and disease were analyzed, screening of nutritional risk was assessed according to the validated Russian version of the STRONG-kids screening tool, nutritional status was evaluated using the WHO AnthroPlus program (2009) and the anthropometric indices (Z-scores: weight/age, height/age, BMI/age), the biochemical parameters (concentrations of C-reactive protein, total protein, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin) were estimated. Results. A high nutritional risk at admission was established in more than half (57%) of patients, moderate — in 36% of patients, low — only in 7% of cases. Malnutrition (Z-score BMI/age from –1 to –3) was diagnosed in 24 (40%) patients, 58% of them suffered from diseases of the esophagus, 37% had pathology of the intestine and 36% — the genitourinary system. Conclusion. Nutritional risk screening and nutrition status assessment are necessary in all patients admitted to pediatric surgical hospitals for the timely appointment of adequate nutritional support, which will reduce the incidence of postoperative complications and decreasing the length of hospital stay.