Perioperative immunonutrition in normo-nourished patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection

To determine whether the joint implementation of immunonutrition and a laparoscopic approach improves morbidity, mortality, and length of stay (LOS) compared with dietary advice.

Despite progress in recent years in the surgical management of patients with colorectal cancer, postoperative complications are frequent. Nutritional supplements enriched with immunonutrients have recently been introduced into clinical practice. However, the immunonutrition benefits in patients undergoing colorectal laparoscopic surgery are unknown.

This study was a prospective, randomized trial with two parallel treatment groups receiving an immune-enhancing dietary supplement for 7 days before colorectal resection and 5 days postoperatively or dietary advice.

A total of 128 patients were randomized. At baseline, both groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, surgical risk, comorbidities, and analytical and nutritional parameters. The median postoperative LOS was 5 days and was not significantly different between the groups. Wound infection differed significantly between the groups (11.50 vs. 0.00 %, p = 0.006). No other differences between the groups were identified.

The joint use of laparoscopy and supplementation with immunonutrients reduces surgical wound infection in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

This study is registered with ClinicalTrial.gov : NCT0239396.