Pre- and Post-Surgical Nutrition for Preservation of Muscle Mass, Strength, and Functionality Following Orthopedic Surgery

Nutritional status is a strong predictor of postoperative outcomes and is recognized as an important component of surgical recovery programs. Adequate nutritional consumption is essential for addressing the surgical stress response and mitigating the loss of muscle mass, strength, and functionality. Especially in older patients, inadequate protein can lead to significant muscle atrophy, leading to a loss of independence and increased mortality risk. Current nutritional recommendations for surgery primarily focus on screening and prevention of malnutrition, pre-surgical fasting protocols, and combating post-surgical insulin resistance, while recommendations regarding macronutrient composition and timing around surgery are less established. The goal of this review is to highlight oral nutrition strategies that can be implemented leading up to and following major surgery to minimize atrophy and the resultant loss of functionality. The role of carbohydrate and especially protein/essential amino acids in combating the surgical stress cascade and supporting recovery are discussed. Practical considerations for nutrient timing to maximize oral nutritional intake, especially during the immediate pre- and post- surgical periods, are also be discussed.

Rationale in management of entero-cutaneous fistula following routine and emergency surgery: a prospective study in a tertiary care hospital of Odisha

Background: The enterocutaneous fistula is an abnormal communication between gastrointestinal tract and skin. It is a grave surgical complication following surgery on gastrointestinal tract. Despite in surgical nutrition and critical care, mortality from enterocutaneous fistula remains high. Improvements in outcome are focused on prevention and when fistula occurs, prompt recognition and intervention is essential.Methods: This is institutional based prospective observational study which was conducted in S.C.B Medical college, Cuttack, Odisha for a period from September 2015 to September 2017 on 30 patients with enterocutaneous fistulae occurring as post-operative complication among patients admitted and operated at our institution for various gastrointestinal conditions and also referred from other centres after complication had set in. Detailed history, physical examination, routine workup, management and its outcome were studied.Results: The maximum number of fistulae (86.7%) developed after emergency surgery than routine. Incidence of enterocutaneous fistulae was observed in cases operated for intestinal obstruction (40%) followed by operation for enteric perforation (28%). The highest incidence of enterocutaneous fistula occurred on 8th post-operative day (36.7%). 24 cases were treated conservatively while 6 patients underwent operative treatment.Conclusions: Hence, the enterocutaneous fistula is frequently seen with emergency surgery of gastrointestinal tract, particularly on ileum, usually occurring around 8th post-operative day and most of them end in spontaneous closure with conservative treatment.

Optimizing Nutrition for the Surgical Patient: An Evidenced Based Update to Dispel Five Common Myths in Surgical Nutrition Care

Traditional practices in the delivery of nutrition to the surgical patient include reliance on nonspecific laboratory markers to define malnutrition, prolonged periods of nil per os, early and liberal initiation of parenteral nutrition, withholding enteral feedings based on gastric residual volume measurements, and pursuing feeding tube access for most patients unable to take oral nutrition. However, recent studies call into question all of these practices. This review aims to provide evidenced-based support to abandon these myths regarding nutrition delivery and offer practical up-to-date advice for best practices in patient care.