Publication

Abstract : Parenteral nutrition is a new therapeutic tool used in clinical management of patients parenteral nutrition support. The need of total parental nutrition in surgical patients increases with nutritional depletion from inadequate nutritional intake, surgical stress and the subsequent increase in metabolic rate. A sound nutritional plan will help to prevent the loss of weight and physical debility that may occur as a result of surgery. In surgical patients due to malnutrition, nutritional support should begin at least 7–10 days prior to surgery. Those patients in whom eating is not anticipated beyond the first five days following surgery should receive the benefits of parenteral feeding. The main goals of nutritional support are to minimize negative protein balance by avoiding starvation, with the purpose of maintaining muscle, immune, and cognitive function and to enhance postoperative recovery. The aim of this article is to review the nutritional assessment of surgical patients, options for and potential benefits of nutritional support. © 2015, Global Research Online. All rights reserved.