Post op nutrition - Surgeons Role for early restart

Description

Surgical procedures induce a hypermetabolic response on the body increasing protein and energy requirements. Development of post-operative malnutrition is dependent on the patients pre-existing nutritional status, the surgical procedure and the degree of hyper-metabolism. Post-operative malnutrition can impair immune function, increase mortality, increase length of stay, compromise wound healing and increase complication rates. Early enteral nutrition post-surgery reduces the risks of wound infection, pneumonia, intra-abdominal abscess and anastomotic dehiscence.