[Preoperative nutritional status of neurosurgery patients]

In a prospective trial anthropometric and biochemical data of 24 neurosurgical patients with primary intracranial tumors were measured to assess preoperative malnutrition in this special group of patients. In spite of starving because of invasive diagnostic procedures, high-dose dexamethasone therapy of peritumoral edema, and changes in food intake because of psychical alterations and repeated vomiting resulting from elevated intracranial pressure no abnormalities were found in the data measured. The authors conclude that in general preoperative malnutrition is absent in neurosurgical patients and preoperative nutrition to improve postoperative outcome is not indicated in this group.