[Optimal postoperative nutrition: pro and contra enteral and parenteral feeding]

Malnutrition is correlated with an increased incidence of postoperative complications. As a consequence, preoperative hyperalimentation results in a decrease of postoperative complications in patients with malnutrition. In contrast, the beneficial effects of postoperative nutritional support are still to be proven. The majority of prospective trials have shown limited advantageous effects for patients with delayed nutritional intake after the surgical procedure. In these patients enteral nutrition has been shown to reduce the rate of infectious complications. If enteral nutrition cannot be applied, the addition of glutamine as a dipeptide is beneficial with regard to intestinal barrier function.