[Nutritional status in esophageal cancer: assessment and significance for preoperative risk assessment]

In a prospective study including 60 patients with esophageal carcinoma the nutritional status was evaluated by means of anthropometric, biochemical and immunological data. As a first measure of malnutrition the diminuation of each single parameter was estimated in a 10%-scale, according to this a linear rising number of points given and the sum for all 11 parameters expressed as a score (Gofferje and Fekl). Second the nutritional status was judged by the prognostic nutritional index (Buzby and Mullen). Both score and index were correlated with serious postoperative complications (wound infection, anastomotic leakage, sepsis, organ failure, death). The results show that it was not possible to assess the risk of esophagectomy preoperatively on the ground of nutritional parameters solely. The reason could be that the nutritional status was rather normal in most cases and its risk burden therefore low. In conclusion performing preoperative nutritional therapy routinely seems not to be justified.