Abbreviated Perioperative Fasting Management for Elective Fresh Fracture Surgery: Guideline Adherence Analysis

BackgroundLong-term fasting for elective surgery has been proven unnecessary based on established guidelines. Instead, preoperative carbohydrate loading 2 hours before surgery and recommencing oral nutrition intake as soon as possible after surgery is recommended. This study was performed to analyze the compliance with and effect of abbreviated perioperative fasting management in patients undergoing surgical repair of fresh fractures based on current guidelines.MethodsPatients with fresh fractures were consecutively enrolled from May 2019 to July 2019 at our hospital. A carbohydrate-enriched beverage was recommended up to 2 hours before surgery for all surgical patients except those with contraindications. Postoperatively, oral clear liquids were allowed once the patients had regained full consciousness, and solid food was allowed 1 to 2 hours later according to the patients’ willingness. The perioperative fasting time was recorded and the patients’ subjective comfort with respect to thirst and hunger was assessed using an interview-assisted questionnaire.ResultsIn total, 306 patients were enrolled in this study. The compliance rate of preoperative carbohydrate loading was 71.6%, and 93.5% of patients began ingestion of oral liquids within 2 hours after surgery. The median (interquartile range) preoperative fasting time for liquids and solids was 8 (5.2–12.9) and 19 (15.7–22) hours, respectively. The median postoperative fasting time for liquids and solids was 1 (0.5–1.9) and 2.8 (2.2–3.5) hours, respectively. A total of 70.3% and 74.2% of patients reported no thirst or hunger during the perioperative period. Logistic regression analysis showed that the preoperative fasting time for liquids was an independent risk factor for perioperative hunger. No adverse events such as aspiration pneumonia or gastroesophageal reflux were observed.ConclusionsIn this study of a real clinical practice setting, abbreviated perioperative fasting management was carried out with high compliance in patients with fresh fractures. The preoperative fasting time should be further shortened to further improve patients’ subjective comfort.

Assessing Global Kidney Nutrition Care

Background and objectivesNutrition intervention is an essential component of kidney disease management. This study aimed to understand current global availability and capacity of kidney nutrition care services, interdisciplinary communication, and availability of oral nutrition supplements.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsThe International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM), working in partnership with the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) Global Kidney Health Atlas Committee, developed this Global Kidney Nutrition Care Atlas. An electronic survey was administered among key kidney care stakeholders through 182 ISN-affiliated countries between July and September 2018.ResultsOverall, 160 of 182 countries (88%) responded, of which 155 countries (97%) answered the survey items related to kidney nutrition care. Only 48% of the 155 countries have dietitians/renal dietitians to provide this specialized service. Dietary counseling, provided by a person trained in nutrition, was generally not available in 65% of low-/lower middle–income countries and “never” available in 23% of low-income countries. Forty-one percent of the countries did not provide formal assessment of nutrition status for kidney nutrition care. The availability of oral nutrition supplements varied globally and, mostly, were not freely available in low-/lower middle–income countries for both inpatient and outpatient settings. Dietitians and nephrologists only communicated “sometimes” on kidney nutrition care in ≥60% of countries globally.ConclusionsThis survey reveals significant gaps in global kidney nutrition care service capacity, availability, cost coverage, and deficiencies in interdisciplinary communication on kidney nutrition care delivery, especially in lower-income countries.

Intraoperative Positioning in Maxillofacial Trauma Patients With Cervical Spine Injury – Is It Safe? Radiological Simulation in a Healthy Volunteer

Introduction Cervical spine (C-spine) injury is present in up to 10% of patients with maxillofacial fractures. Uncertainty over the status of the C-spine and permitted head movements may delay maxillofacial surgical intervention, resulting in prolonged patient discomfort and return to oral nutrition, reducing quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the effects on the C-spine of positioning patients for maxillofacial procedures by simulating intraoperative positions for common maxillofacial procedures. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess the effects of head position in common intraoperative configurations – neutral (anterior mandible position), extended (tracheostomy position) and laterally rotated (mandibular condyle position) on the C-spine of a healthy volunteer. Results In the tracheostomy position, maximal movement occurred in the sagittal plane between the cervico-occipital junction and C4–C5, as well as at the cervico-thoracic junction. Minimal movement occurred at C2 (on C3), C5 (on C6) and C6 (on C7). In the mandibular condyle position, C-spine movements occurred in both rotational and sagittal planes. Maximal movement occurred above the level of C4, concentrated at atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial (C1–2) joints. Conclusion Neck extension is likely to be relatively safe in injuries that are stable in flexion and extension, such as odontoid peg fracture and fractures between C5 and C7. Head rotation is likely to be relatively safe in fractures below C4, as well as vertebral body fractures, and laminar fractures without disc disruption. Early dialogue with the neurosurgical team remains a central tenet of safe management of patients with combined maxillofacial and C-spine injuries.

A Low-Protein Diet with a Renal-Specific Oral Nutrition Supplement Helps Maintain Nutritional Status in Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

A low-protein diet (LPD) is recommended to patients with non-dialysis advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) for delaying renal function decline. However, this approach potentially prevents an adequate calorie and micronutrient intake. We examined the influence of an LPD including a renal-specific oral nutrition supplement (RONS) on the nutrition status of patients with stage 3b–5 CKD. This multicenter, open-label study prospectively enrolled patients over 18 years of age, with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 10 and 45 mL/min/1.73 m2, serum albumin ≥3.0 g/dL, and body mass index ≤30 kg/m2. All participants implemented the LPD with one serving of RONS daily for 6 months. Daily energy intake, nutrition status, renal function, and quality of life were assessed before and after the intervention. Of 53 enrolled patients, 35 (66.0%) completed the study. We found that RONS use increased patients’ energy intake and maintained their serum albumin, nutritional status, and quality of life. Body weight and handgrip strength increased significantly at 6 months after enrollment (p = 0.0357); eGFR slightly decreased at 3 and 6 months after enrollment, suggesting that patients’ residual renal function was preserved. Our findings support the conclusion that patients with non-dialysis advanced CKD may benefit from additional RONS besides their regular diet. Patients with advanced CKD receiving RONS might achieve better nutrition and delay renal function decline.

Do State Agency on Aging Strategic Plans Include Terms Related to Malnutrition?

Demand for federal nutrition assistance programs is increasing as the older population grows and further accelerated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adult nutrition programs are based on federal nutrition guidelines that have traditionally focused on healthy populations, yet many older adults have multiple chronic conditions/advanced age. Some guidelines are changing; the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recognize older adults’ risk for malnutrition and also need for adequate protein to prevent lean muscle loss with age. The 2020 Older Americans Act (OAA) reauthorization included reduction of malnutrition in OAA’s official purpose and added program participant screening for malnutrition. The OAA requires State Agencies on Aging submit multiyear strategic plans to receive program funding, but it is unknown how the plans address risks for malnutrition, including overweight, underweight, and muscle loss (sarcopenia/frailty). We searched 51 State Agency on Aging strategic plans posted at advancingstates.org to determine their frequency of mentioning nutrition, malnutrition/underweight/undernutrition, obesity/overweight, frail/frailty, sarcopenia, and dietary supplements/oral nutrition supplements (DS/ONS)/meal replacements. Every state plan included nutrition but less than a third included malnutrition. There was wide variability in how nutrition and malnutrition were incorporated into state goals and strategies. Very few plans included obesity, frailty, and DS/ONS terms; none included sarcopenia. Although there has been some movement, there is need for many State Agencies on Aging plans to address all aspects of malnutrition including overweight, underweight/other factors related to muscle loss (sarcopenia/frailty) that adversely impact healthy aging. Wide disparities in plan structure/use of terms create opportunities for more common approaches/definitions.

Factors Related to Oral Intake of Food by Hospitalized Patients with Malnutrition under the Care of a Nutrition Support Team

This study aimed to evaluate the role of the general condition and oral health status in determining the primary nutritional route and suitable food form for oral ingestion among malnourished inpatients. This cross-sectional study included 255 inpatients referred to a nutrition support team (NST), which included dental professionals, at an acute care hospital. We assessed the participants’ basic information, and Dysphagia Severity Scale (DSS) and Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) scores. The nutritional intake mode was evaluated based on the Functional Oral Intake Scale scores at the initial NST consultation (FOIS-I), and then revised by the NST based on the participants’ general condition and oral health (FOIS-R). There was a divergence between FOIS-I and FOIS-R, with FOIS-R being significantly higher than FOIS-I (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis of FOIS-R identified that consciousness level (odds ratio (OR): 0.448; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.214–0.935) and DSS (OR: 3.521; 95% CI: 2.574–4.815) significantly affected the oral nutrition intake. Among participants who could ingest orally (FOIS-R ≥ 3; n = 126), FOIS score had significant negative and positive associations with the OHAT and DSS scores, respectively. These findings suggest that appropriate assessment of oral health status, including swallowing function, might contribute to high-quality nutrition management.

Study protocol for an open labelled randomised controlled trial of perioperative oral nutrition supplement in breast and colorectal cancer patients undergoing elective surgery

Background While it is well established that perioperative use of oral nutrition supplement (ONS) improves nutrition status among severely malnourished surgical cancer patients, the evidence requires further substantiation for non-severely malnourished patients with cancer. This protocol paper presents the rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative as well as an extended 90-day postoperative use of ONS on nutritional and clinical outcomes among patients undergoing elective surgery for breast and colorectal cancer. Methods Patients with primary breast and colorectal cancer undergoing elective surgery are recruited from two tertiary hospitals. Eligible patients are assigned into one of the three intervention arms: (i) Group SS will receive ONS in addition to their normal diet up to 14 days preoperatively and postoperatively up to discharge; (ii) Group SS-E will receive ONS in addition to their normal diet up to 14 days preoperatively, postoperatively up to discharge and for an extended 90 days after discharge; and (iii) Group DS will receive ONS in addition to their normal diet postoperatively up to discharge from the hospital. The ONS is a standard formula fortified with lactium to aid in sleep for recovery. The primary endpoints include changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), serum albumin and prealbumin levels, while secondary endpoints are body composition (muscle and fat mass), muscle strength (handgrip strength), energy and protein intake, sleep quality, haemoglobin, inflammatory markers (transferrin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6), stress marker (saliva cortisol), length of hospital stay and postoperative complication rate. Discussion This trial is expected to provide evidence on whether perioperative supplementation in breast and colorectal cancer patients presenting with high BMI and not severely malnourished but undergoing the stress of surgery would be beneficial in terms of nutritional and clinical outcomes. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov NCT04400552. Registered on 22 May 2020, retrospectively registered

VP010 INTRA-ABDOMINAL HERNIA AS A CAUSE OF ACUTE SMALL INTESTINE OBSTRUCTION. LAPAROSCOPIC EMERGENCY TREATMENT - SMALL INTESTINE OBSTRUCTION DUE TO INTERNAL HERNIA WITH CONCOMITANT ACALCULOUS CHOLECYSTITIS

Aim Nowadays, in vast majority of emergency patients with gastrointestinal obstruction laparoscopy is not the treatment of choice. In our department laparoscopy is routinely used in emergency admitted patients, also those with abovementioned condition, sometimes yielding unexpected and thrilling results. The aim of this work is to present a laparoscopic internal hernia repair with simultaneous “Phrygian-cap-type” gallbladder excision, performed on a patient with small intestine obstruction and chronic acalculous cholecystitis. Material and Methods A 57-year-old patient was admitted to our department as an emergency, with a one week history of symptomatic cholecystitis accompanied by gastrointestinal obstruction. CT revealed atypical suprahepatic displacement of the small intestine. An attempt of conservative treatment failed after the re-initiation of oral nutrition. The patient was qualified for laparoscopy. Results An anatomical variant of the liver ligaments was visualized with two defects in the anteriorly displaced coronary ligament and shortening of the falciform ligament. Those defects formed the hernia ring entrapping a small intestine of a total length of about 1.5 m. The falciform ligament was dissected. To avoid re-entrapment of the intestine, most of the coronary ligament was severed. Consecutively the inflamed gallbladder was removed. The unusual anatomical variation of its structure, the so-called “Phrygian cap”, was an additional difficulty. The postoperative course was uneventful. Conclusions The presented material demonstrates the possibility of immediate treatment of intestinal obstruction, even in a complicated cases, with laparoscopic manner, without the need of conversion to the open method.