[Nutritional support in the patient with GI malignancy]

Hyponutrition is a common feature of patients with GI malignancy. When these patients reach a critical situation, such as the postoperative period of a tumor resection or after a surgery for the presence of complications, nutritional status further deteriorates. Nutritional intervention should be part of the therapeutic process, starting at the preoperative phase in malnourished patients. Enteral nutrition is the route of choice for nutrients supply, although insertion of enteral tubes during the surgical procedure may need to be considered many times. Enteral nutrition is a safe technique in these patients and may even represent some advantages in their clinical course as compared to parenteral nutrition. The use of pharmaco-nutrients-enriched diets brings beneficial effects (decrease of infectious complications and hospital stay) to patients, although a favorable effect on mortality cannot be demonstrated.