Abstract | OBJECTIVE: BACKGROUND DATA: Recent studies have shown that malnutrition occurs in up to 30% of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery, resulting in an increased risk of postoperative complications and death. With the realization that key nutrients can modulate inflammatory, metabolic, and immune processes, enteral nutritional regimens (supplemented with large amounts of key nutrients) have been developed for clinical use. METHODS: Eleven prospective, randomized controlled trials evaluating 1009 patients treated with combinations of key nutrients (Impact, Immun-Aid) were evaluated. Outcome measures examined were the incidences of pneumonia, infectious complications, and death, and length of hospital stay. Meta-analyses were undertaken to obtain the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for incidences of infectious complications, pneumonia, and death, and the weighted mean difference and 95% confidence interval for length of hospital stay. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis has demonstrated that nutritional support supplemented with key nutrients results in a significant reduction in the risk of developing infectious complications and reduces the overall hospital stay in patients with critical illness and in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. However, there is no effect on death. These data have important implications for the management of such patients.
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Authors | S D Heys, L G Walker, I Smith, O Eremin |
Journal | Annals of surgery
(Ann Surg)
Vol. 229
Issue 4
Pg. 467-77
(Apr 1999)
ISSN: 0003-4932 [Print] United States |
PMID | 10203078
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Meta-Analysis)
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Topics |
- Abdominal Abscess
(prevention & control)
- Critical Illness
- Enteral Nutrition
- Food, Fortified
- Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
(surgery)
- Humans
- Length of Stay
- Pneumonia
(prevention & control)
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
- Sepsis
(prevention & control)
- Surgical Wound Infection
(prevention & control)
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