Clinical nutrition : official journal of the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
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Patients undergoing gastrointestinal operations are at risk of malnutrition which may increase the chance of adverse surgical outcomes. This prospective study aimed at correlating nutritional status of patients having gastrointestinal operations with their short-term surgical outcomes captured by a territory-wide Surgical Outcomes Monitoring and Improvement Program. ⋯ Preoperative malnutrition was an important predictor of poor clinical outcomes in patients undergoing gastrointestinal operations in Hong Kong.
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A new Body Mass Index (BMI) formula has been developed for a better approximation of under and overweight. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of this newly proposed BMI formula for postoperative complications in elective colorectal cancer surgery compared with the conventional BMI formula. ⋯ This study showed no superiority of the new BMI formula in predicting postoperative complications after colorectal cancer surgery. Confirmation of the results in a larger cohort is desirable.
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The provision of nutrition to critically ill patients is internationally accepted as standard of care in intensive care units (ICU). Nutrition has the potential to positively impact patient outcomes, is relatively inexpensive compared to other commonly used treatments, and is increasingly identified as a marker of quality ICU care. ⋯ As with many areas of medicine the evidence is rapidly changing and often conflicting, making interpretation and application difficult for the individual clinician. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the major evidence base on nutrition therapy in critically ill patients and provide practical suggestions.
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Survivors of critical illness commonly experience neuromuscular abnormalities, including muscle weakness known as ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW). ICU-AW is associated with delayed weaning from mechanical ventilation, extended ICU and hospital stays, more healthcare-related hospital costs, a higher risk of death, and impaired physical functioning and quality of life in the months after ICU admission. ⋯ Randomized trials testing this and related hypotheses are needed. We discussed key methodological issues and proposed a common evaluation framework to stimulate work in this area and standardize our approach to outcome assessments across future studies.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The influence of parenteral glutamine supplementation on glucose homeostasis in critically ill polytrauma patients--A randomized-controlled clinical study.
Rapid onset of resistance to insulin is a prominent component of stress metabolism in multiple trauma patients. Recent studies have clarified the role of amino acids (especially glutamine) in glucose transportation and the benefits of parenteral alanyl-glutamine supplementation (0.3-0.6 g/kg/day) in glucose homeostasis. The aims of this study are to evaluate the incidence of hyperglycemic episodes and the need for exogenous insulin to maintain stable glucose levels in critically ill polytrauma patients supplemented with parenteral glutamine dipeptide (Dipeptiven(®)) versus standard nutritional support. ⋯ The effect of glutamine supplementation on glucose homeostasis is associated with a lower incidence of hyperglycemia among critically ill polytrauma patients, and leads to a lower mean daily dose of insulin. Controlled-trials.com Identifier: ISRCTN71592366 (http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN71592366/ISRCTN71592366).