Nutritional support for the trauma and emergency general surgery patient: What you need to know.

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

J Trauma Acute Care Surg

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Decades of research have provided insight into the benefits of nutritional optimization in the elective surgical patient. Patients who are nutritionally prepared for surgery enjoy reduced length of hospital and intensive care unit stays and suffer fewer complications. In the trauma and emergency general surgery patient populations, we are not afforded the preoperative period of optimization and patients often suffer longer lengths of hospital stay, discharge to nonhome destinations, and higher infectious and mortality rates. Nonetheless, ongoing research in this vulnerable and time critical diagnosis population has revealed significant outcomes benefits with the meticulous nutritional support of these patients. However, it is important to note that optimal nutritional support in this challenging patient population is not simply a matter of "feeding more and feeding earlier." In this review, we will address assessing nutritional needs, the provision of optimal nutrition, the timing and route of nutrition, and monitoring outcomes and discuss the management of nutrition in the complex trauma and emergency general surgery patient.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Literature Synthesis and Expert Opinion; Level V.

First Page

855

Last Page

864

DOI

10.1097/TA.0000000000004283

Publication Date

6-1-2024

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