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Nutritional Implications in Postoperative Patients

  • Nutrition, Metabolism, and Surgery (Keith Miller, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

In this review, the impact of surgical interventions along the gastrointestinal tract, from the stomach to the colon and rectum, on both immediate and long-term postoperative nutrition are reviewed.

Recent Findings

As the understanding of metabolic and cellular pathways continue to be elucidated, the recommendations for correction of nutritional deficits following surgery have continued to expand. Suggestions for nutritional monitoring and supplementation are provided from a wide variety of patient populations. The role of parenteral nutrition and enteral access for exogenous enteral feeding are also discussed in the context of holistic nutritional support.

Summary

Through examination of the anatomic changes that result following various operations, defined in this review via anatomic location, the differences in nutritional requirements of patients post operatively can be examined and implemented. Within the stomach, bariatric surgery has resulted in the reduction of metabolic disorders, but this anatomic rearrangement leads to further vitamin and mineral requirements that must be addressed. The same pattern is noted from the stomach to the colon, with varying physiologic and anatomical requirements. Understanding these physiologic derangements is an important component of post operative patient care.

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Funding

No additional funding was provided for this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Alexandra N. Jones

  2. Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Kristen A. Robinson

  3. Department of Clinical Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Kathryn Munder

  4. Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Neal Bhutiani

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  1. Alexandra N. Jones
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  2. Kristen A. Robinson
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  3. Kathryn Munder
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  4. Neal Bhutiani
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Contributions

AJ, KR, and KM wrote the main manuscript text and prepared the tables NB critically edited the manuscript All authors reviewed the manuscript

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Neal Bhutiani.

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Jones, A.N., Robinson, K.A., Munder, K. et al. Nutritional Implications in Postoperative Patients. Curr Surg Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40137-024-00404-0

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