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Role of l-Arginine in Surgical Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

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L-Arginine in Clinical Nutrition

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

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Abstract

Significant malnutrition exists in up to 40–50 % of patients with cancer of the head and neck (Goncalves Dias et al. Nutr Hosp 20:320–325, 2005). Many factors contribute to malnutrition in these patients, including poor dietary practices, alcoholism, catabolic factors secreted by the tumor, such as the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukins (IL), local tumor effects, anorexia, cancer-induced cachexia, and treatment effects (Oloriz Rivas & Domínguez Vázquez. Nutr Hosp 7:282–290, 1992). Nutritional evaluation is a main key in the treatment of these surgical patients (Table 40.1). Patients undergoing surgery because of a head and neck malignancy have a 20–50 % incidence of postoperative complications (Harries & Lund. J Laryngol Otol 103:306–309, 1989). These complications include major wound infections, fistula, anastomotic leakage, and septicemia and may lead to not only a prolonged hospital stay but also a poorer prognosis. Several factors may contribute to this morbidity, one of which is malnutrition (Reilly. Oncology 4:105–115, 1990).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Investigation of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Medicine School and Hospital Clinico Universitario, University of Valladolid, C/Los Perales 16, Simancas, Valladolid, 47130, Spain

    Daniel de Luis MD, Rocio Aller MD & Pablo Casas-Rodera MD

Authors
  1. Daniel de Luis MD
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  2. Rocio Aller MD
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  3. Pablo Casas-Rodera MD
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Correspondence to Daniel de Luis MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science & Technology Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Department Nutrition and Dietetics Nutritional Sciences Division School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. Nutritional Sciences Research Division Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Rajkumar Rajendram

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de Luis, D., Aller, R., Casas-Rodera, P. (2017). Role of l-Arginine in Surgical Patients with Head and Neck Cancer. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V., Rajendram, R. (eds) L-Arginine in Clinical Nutrition. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26009-9_40

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26009-9_40

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-26007-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-26009-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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