Prognosis for major abdominal surgeries based on intraoperative low-dose nutrition: A metabolic perspective

Abstract

Background & aims: The optimal nutrition intake during surgery is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the prognosis of low-dose nutrition during laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods: In the glucose and amino acids (GA) group, 20 patients were infused with glucose (75 g/L) and amino acids (30 g/L) at 60 mL/h and bicarbonate Ringer's solution. However, 20 patients in the control (C) group were infused with bicarbonate Ringer's solution without GA. The length of hospital stay was determined, and measurements were taken before (TI) and after (T2) the surgery under general anesthesia.

Results: The lengths of hospital stay were comparable between the GA (13 days) and C (16 days) groups. Ketone body levels were 294 (C group) and 33 (GA group) μmol/L at T2. Nitrogen balance was 0.32 g (GA group) and -1.60 g (C group) at T2.

Conclusions: Although the lengths of hospital stay were comparable, ketone body levels, and nitrogen balance were significantly different (P < 0.01) between the two groups after surgery.

Keywords: Amino acids; Glucose; Ketone body; Laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery; Nitrogen balance; Nutrition.