[Nutritional status and cephalic duodenopancreatectomy in neoplasm treatment]

Usually, nutritional status of patients with neoplasia is poor. This is an important factor when the radical resection of the tumor implies aggressive surgery, and it has a clear influence on postoperative morbidity and mortality. From 1979 to 1988, 33 cephalic duodenopancreatectomies for carcinoma of the ampullary region have been carried out in the Servicio de Cirugía Digestiva, hospital "Santa Cruz y San Pablo". For retrospective evaluation of postoperative parenteral nutrition patients have been divided in two groups: group A, with routine parenteral nutrition and group B, with parenteral nutrition only if required. In group A, 75% of patients did not present postoperative morbidity, compared to 38% of patients in group B. There were 7 deaths: all of them in group B. The time of hospitalization was lower in group A. Differences in the three parameters under consideration was statistically significant. We conclude that, in order to improve morbidity and mortality as well as to reduce the hospitalization time, postoperative parenteral nutrition is necessary in patients submitted to cephalic duodenopancreatectomy for neoplasia.