[Clinical efficacy of carbohydrate preloading in reconstructive esophageal surgery]

To evaluate clinical efficacy of preoperative carbohydrate loading as a component of ERAS in esophageal reconstructive surgery.

Post hoc analysis included 162 patients who underwent esophageal reconstructive interventions with ERAS principles between 2014 and 2024. The main group (n=61, CHO+) included patients who were metabolically loaded with carbohydrates in preoperative period with 12.5% maltodextrin solution 800 mL the day before and 400 mL 2 hours before surgery per os or enterally. The control group consisted of patients without carbohydrate load (n=101, CHO-). Primary endpoint was length of hospital-stay, secondary control points - postoperative glycemia and complication rate.

Both groups were comparable in sex, age, character of the main and comorbid diseases, body mass index. Patients with CHO had significant lower incidence of respiratory complications (p=0.034). Both groups did not differ in the incidence of anastomosis failure, morbidity and mortality.

Preoperative carbohydrate loading in esophageal reconstructive surgery positively affects metabolic status and reduces the incidence of respiratory complications without effect on length of hospital-stay.