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Surgical Nutrition

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Contemporary Coloproctology

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Abstract

Nutritional status is an important independent variable influencing outcome from surgery. Malnourished patients do less well after surgery. They have higher mortality rates, more complications, longer lengths of stay, and cost more to treat. A large number of studies have shown a relationship between nutritional status and clinical outcome following surgery. As long ago as 1936, a tenfold difference in mortality after gastrectomy was demonstrated when severely malnourished and more normally nourished patients were compared [1]. Many more recent studies have shown marked increases in postoperative morbidity and mortality after gastrointestinal surgery in severely malnourished patients and moreover that they stay in hospital significantly longer at substantial extra cost. These findings have been reproduced consistently across surgical specialties and are particularly relevant in colorectal surgery (Box 23.1).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Wirral NHS Trust, Arrowe Park Hospital, Arrowe Park Road, Upton, Wirral, UK

    Ciaran J. Walsh M.Ch., FRSCI

Authors
  1. Ciaran J. Walsh M.Ch., FRSCI
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Correspondence to Ciaran J. Walsh M.Ch., FRSCI .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundat, Sheffield, S5 7AU, United Kingdom

    Steven R. Brown

  2. Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, United Kingdom

    John E. Hartley

  3. Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom

    Jim Hill

  4. Hope Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Nigel Scott

  5. New Cross Hospital, Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Trust, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP, United Kingdom

    J. Graham Williams

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Walsh, C.J. (2012). Surgical Nutrition. In: Brown, S., Hartley, J., Hill, J., Scott, N., Williams, J. (eds) Contemporary Coloproctology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-889-8_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-889-8_23

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-888-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-889-8

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