Effect of postoperative early enteral nutrition on clinical outcomes and immune function of cholangiocarcinoma patients with malignant obstructive jaundice

Effect of the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program on postoperative liver cancer patients: A single-center randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is the most common complication in postoperative liver cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program on postoperative liver cancer patients.

METHODS

A total of 184 liver cancer patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (treated under the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program) or a control group (treated with the general nutritional method). Nutrition-related indicators, such as prealbumin (PA) and albumin, were assessed before and after treatment in both groups. The incidence of complications (e.g., nausea or vomiting, bloating, difficulty defecating, ascites), length of hospital stay, first time to anal exhaust and out-of-bed activity, and patient satisfaction were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 184 liver cancer patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (treated under the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program) or a control group (treated with the general nutritional method). Nutrition-related indicators, such as prealbumin (PA) and albumin, were assessed before and after treatment in both groups. The incidence of complications (e.g., nausea or vomiting, bloating, difficulty defecating, ascites), length of hospital stay, first time to anal exhaust and out-of-bed activity, and patient satisfaction were recorded.

CONCLUSION

The Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program improves the nutritional status of postoperative liver cancer patients, lowers the incidence of complications, shortens hospital stays, increases patient satisfaction, and promotes the early recovery of patients.

Nutritional care in patients undergoing laparoscopic/minimally invasive surgeries for gastrointestinal tumours

The introduction of minimally invasive surgeries for gastrointestinal tumours has been associated with many favourable postoperative outcomes and a reduced impact on nutritional status. The literature review begins by discussing the impact of minimally invasive procedures on the nutritional status of patients with gastrointestinal tumours, followed by indications for enteral nutrition (EN) in this population, including preoperative nutritional support and postoperative nutritional support. The review then examines the evidence that favours the use of EN in this population, including studies demonstrating improved outcomes with preoperative EN and reduced postoperative complications with postoperative EN. It also discusses potential strategies for improving outcomes with EN, such as early initiation of feeding and individualized nutrition plans. Overall, current evidence shows that EN improves outcomes, reduces complications, and enhances the quality of life. However, the optimal timing, composition of EN, and long-term outcomes are still unclear, indicating the need for future investigations.

Nutritional Support for Liver Diseases

The liver is a key organ that is responsible for the metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and the absorption and storage of micronutrients. Unfortunately, the prevalence of chronic liver diseases at various stages of advancement in the world population is significant. Due to the physiological function of the liver, its dysfunction can lead to malnutrition and sarcopenia, and the patient's nutritional status is an important prognostic factor. This review discusses key issues related to the diet therapy of patients with chronic liver diseases, as well as those qualified for liver transplantation and in the postoperative period.

The effects of allogeneic and autologous blood transfusion on immune function in patients receiving total hip replacement

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of allogeneic and autologous blood transfusion on immune function and postoperative inflammation in patients after total hip replacement.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, the clinical data of 60 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty through a posterolateral approach were analyzed. The patients were grouped into an autologous blood transfusion group (allo group) (n = 30) and an autologous blood transfusion group (auto-group) (n = 30) according to the treatment they received. All patients did not receive preoperative and intraoperative blood transfusion. The blood collected in the operation area was transfused to the patients in the auto-group with the autotransfusion device and the allogeneic blood was transfused to the patients in the allo-group after the operation. The average amount of blood transfusion was 400 ml. The immune function after blood transfusion was mainly evaluated by natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) using ELISA kits, meanwhile the changes of cellular immune factor levels (differentiation cluster of differentiation, CD) (CD3+, CD4+) and humoral immune factor levels (Immunoglobulin E, IgE) after blood transfusion were determined by flow cytometry. The secondary outcome was postoperative inflammatory response measured by white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil percentage (NP) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

RESULTS

The parameters of both groups of patients were comparable. The auto-group significantly outperformed the Allo-group in the following laboratory parameters: NKCC (%, E:T = 10:1) at day 2 [26.1 (Auto) vs 19.3 (Allo); P = 0.0025], NKCC (%, E:T = 5:1) at day 2 [20.0 (Auto) vs 17.3 (Allo); P = 0.0094], CD3+ (%) at day 2 [50.5 (Auto) vs 40.8 (Allo); P = 0.0233], CD4+ (%) at day 2 [41.2 (Auto) vs 26.3 (Allo); P = 0.0122], IgE (U/mL) at day 2 [157.8 (Auto) vs 319.8 (Allo); P = 0.0064].

CONCLUSION

Autotransfusion can safely replace allogeneic blood transfusion and reduce the damage of postoperative immune function after total hip arthroplasty.

Nutrition as prevention for improved cancer health outcomes: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Among adults with cancer, malnutrition is associated with decreased treatment completion, more treatment harms and use of health care, and worse short-term survival. To inform the National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention workshop, "Nutrition as Prevention for Improved Cancer Health Outcomes," this systematic review examined the evidence for the effectiveness of providing nutrition interventions before or during cancer therapy to improve outcomes of cancer treatment.

METHODS

We identified randomized controlled trials enrolling at least 50 participants published from 2000 through July 2022. We provide a detailed evidence map for included studies and grouped studies by broad intervention and cancer types. We conducted risk of bias (RoB) and qualitative descriptions of outcomes for intervention and cancer types with a larger volume of literature.

RESULTS

From 9798 unique references, 206 randomized controlled trials from 219 publications met the inclusion criteria. Studies primarily focused on nonvitamin or mineral dietary supplements, nutrition support, and route or timing of inpatient nutrition interventions for gastrointestinal or head and neck cancers. Most studies evaluated changes in body weight or composition, adverse events from cancer treatment, length of hospital stay, or quality of life. Few studies were conducted within the United States. Among intervention and cancer types with a high volume of literature (n = 114), 49% (n = 56) were assessed as high RoB. Higher-quality studies (low or medium RoB) reported mixed results on the effect of nutrition interventions across cancer and treatment-related outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Methodological limitations of nutrition intervention studies surrounding cancer treatment impair translation of findings into clinical practice or guidelines.

Preoperative controlling nutritional status score predicts systemic disease recurrence in patients with resectable biliary tract cancer

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to evaluate the association between the preoperative Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, survival outcomes, and recurrence pattern in patients with resectable biliary tract cancer (BTC).

METHODS

A total of 224 BTC patients (gallbladder, n = 69; intrahepatic bile ducts, n = 26; perihilar bile ducts, n = 72; distal bile duct, n = 57) who underwent surgery with curative intent were enrolled. The best cutoff point of the preoperative CONUT score in discriminating survival was determined using χ² scores. The sites of recurrence were subclassified as locoregional or distant.

RESULTS

Patients were subdivided into the CONUT-low (score ≤ 3, n = 156) and the CONUT-high (score > 3; n = 68) groups. In-hospital mortality occurred more frequently in the CONUT-high group than in the CONUT-low group (7.4% vs. 1.3%; p = 0.028). A high preoperative CONUT score was independently associated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 1.906, p = 0.001), worse disease-specific survival (HR 1.840, p = 0.006), and worse recurrence-free survival (HR 1.680, p = 0.005). Recurrence developed in 110 (49.1%) patients. A high preoperative CONUT score was independently associated with a higher risk of distant recurrence (HR 2.245, p = 0.001), but not locoregional recurrence. The incidences of distant recurrence at 5 years were 55.4% and 34.2% in the CONUT-high and CONUT-low groups, respectively (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative CONUT score independently predicts survival outcomes and may serve as a surrogate marker of aggressive systemic disease recurrence in patients with resectable BTC.

The effects of nutritional support team intervention on postoperative immune function, nutritional statuses, inflammatory responses, clinical outcomes of elderly patients with gastric cancer

Background

To explore the effects of nutrition support team (NST) intervention on elderly patients with gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

The elderly GC patients (tumor stage I/II/III), admitted to our department from January 2015 to September 2021, were retrospectively analyzed and divided into NST group and traditional nutrition (TN) group according to nutritional management methods. The immune, inflammatory, nutrition-related indices, postoperative recovery and long-term prognosis of two groups were analyzed.

Results

A total of 258 elderly GC patients were included (NST group, n = 125; TN group, n = 133). After propensity score matching (PSM) in ratio of 1:1, 73 pairs of patients were matched. There were statistically significant differences in CD3 and CD4 level postoperative one month and IgG level postoperative one week between NST group and TN group (P < 0.05). There was no significant differences in serum CRP and IL-6 levels preoperative one day, postoperative one week and one month between two groups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in body mass index (BMI) between the two groups postoperative one month (P < 0.05). The rate of infectious complications in TN group was significantly higher than that in NST group (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant differences in 3-year relapse-free survival (RFS) or 3-year overall survival (OS) between NST group and TN group (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Compared with TN management, NST intervention might be benefit to the immune function recovery and nutritional status, but there was no evidence that NST could improve the prognosis of elderly GC patients.

Postoperative Nutrition Management: Who Needs What?

Background

Early oral feeding after major abdominal surgery has been clearly shown to be safe and not a risk factor for anastomotic dehiscence. Within the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery protocol, it is the nutritional plan A. Nonetheless, one must consider that postoperative protein and energy requirements will often be not covered by oral food intake alone. Because nutritional status has been shown to be a prognostic factor in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, the preoperative identification of patients at risk may be mandatory. Malnutrition may be underestimated in an overweight society. With special regard to patients with cancer and those with preexisting malnutrition, an accumulating caloric gap may be harmful in the early and late postoperative periods. Furthermore, complications requiring reoperation and intensive care treatment may occur.

Summary

Therefore, a plan B for postoperative nutrition therapy is needed, using preferentially the enteral route. The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism recently addressed perioperative nutritional management and the indications for enteral and even parenteral supplementation to achieve caloric requirements in the postoperative course. In the first months after surgery, persisting weight loss is common in patients with upper gastrointestinal resections, even in those with an uncomplicated course. This may delay the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy, increase toxicity, and worsen long-term outcomes.

Prognostic and Clinicopathological Significance of C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio in Patients with Bile Duct Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Recent studies have explored the prognostic role of the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with bile duct cancer (BTC), but the results have been inconsistent. This study aimed to provide insight into the prognostic significance of the CAR in BTC prior to treatment using a meta-analysis. Summarized hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for prognosis and clinicopathological features using fixed or random effects models. Fourteen studies with a total of 1,543 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Elevated CAR was significantly associated with poor overall survival (HR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.81-2.60, P < 0.001) and decreased disease-free survival or recurrence-free survival (HR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.98-3.25, P < 0.001) in BTC. In addition, high CAR was significantly associated with the presence of lymph node metastasis (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.12- 2.13, P = 0.008), bile duct invasion (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.54-4.54, P < 0.001), and tumor stages III-IV (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.05-9.20, P = 0.040). However, there was no significant association between CAR and sex, microvascular invasion, or resection. An elevated CAR was significantly related to worse long-term and short-term survival and advanced clinicopathological features of BTC. CAR could serve as a valuable, noninvasive prognostic marker in patients with BTC.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Colonizing the Bile Duct Are Associated with Increased Morbidity and Mortality after Resection of Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Background: Patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) face considerable morbidity including septic complications after surgery. The aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial spectrum of the common hepatic duct (CHD) and its clinical relevance regarding morbidity and mortality after resection of extrahepatic CCA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 205 patients undergoing surgery for extrahepatic CCA in our department between January 2000 and March 2015. Patients were reviewed for pre-operative medical conditions, biliary bacterial flora obtained from intra-operative swabs, different septic complications, and post-operative outcome. Results: Bacterial colonization of the CHD was observed in 84.9% of the patients, with Enterococcus faecalis being detected most frequently (28.3%). Wound infections occurred in 30.7% of patients. Bacterial flora of the CHD and of the post-operatively colonized wounds coincided in 51.5% and of intra-abdominal swabs obtained during surgical revisions in 40.0%. Ciprofloxacin-resistant bacteria in the CHD were identified as independent risk factor for wound infections (odds ratio [OR], 3.330; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.771-6.263; p < 0.001) and for complications requiring surgical revision (OR, 2.417; 95% CI, 1.288-4.539; p = 0.006). Most important independent risk factors for intra-hospital mortality were ampicillin-sulbactam-resistant bacteria in the CHD (OR, 3.969; 95% CI, 1.515-10.399; p = 0.005) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grading >2 (OR, 2.936; 95% CI, 1.337-6.451; p = 0.007). Conclusions: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria from the CHD are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing resection for extrahepatic CCA.

Oral Nutritional Supplements and Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Gastrointestinal Surgery

Nowadays, patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery are following perioperative treatment in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols. Although oral feeding is supposed not to be stopped perioperatively with respect to ERAS, malnourished patients and inadequate calorie intake are common. Malnutrition, even in overweight or obese patients, is often underestimated. Patients at metabolic risk have to be identified early to confirm the indication for nutritional therapy. The monitoring of nutritional status postoperatively has to be considered in the hospital and after discharge, especially after surgery in the upper gastrointestinal tract, as normal oral food intake is decreased for several months. The article gives an overview of the current concepts of perioperative enteral nutrition in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.