The effect of preoperative total parenteral nutrition on surgery outcomes

The effect of preoperative total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on morbidity and mortality was studied in medical records of discharged surgical patients. Patients were classified into two groups on the basis of their ability to meet established criteria for malnutrition and the use of preoperative or postoperative TPN. The control group consisted of 44 patients who received TPN only after surgery or for less than 5 days preoperatively. The experimental group consisted of 26 patients who received treatment for at least 5 days before surgery and/or after surgery. Nutrition parameters measured included serum albumin, total lymphocyte count, hemoglobin, weight, and percent weight loss. Major septic complications (MSC) considered were intra-abdominal sepsis, wound dehiscence, septicemia, and pneumonia. Other complications included respiratory failure, congestive heart failure, fistulas, urinary tract infection, shock, and death. The experimental group showed improvements after surgery in the nutritional parameters listed and had a lower incidence of morbidity and mortality. Deficits in serum albumin, total lymphocyte count, and weight losses greater than or equal to 10% have been significantly (p less than .01) linked to the incidence of MSC. MSC also has been more frequently noted among patients who did not have TPN prior to surgery and who died following surgery. Therefore, preoperative TPN does appear to make a difference in the outcome of surgery.