ACTA FAC MED NAISS 2007; 24 (4): 195-199

Original article

NUTRITION SCREENING IMPORTANCE FOR PATIENTS THAT UNDERWENT RADICAL CYSTECTOMY

Natalija Stojanovic¹,
Svetlana Pavlovic²
Maja Nikolic³,
Jelenka Nikolic

¹Urology Clinic, Clinical Center Nis
²Faculty of Medicine University of Nis, Department of Anesthesiology
³Faculty of Medicine University of Nis, Department of Public Health
⁴Faculty of Medicine University of Nis, Department of Biochemistry

 
SUMMARY

    The aim of this study was to confirm the significance of introducing perioperative nutrition screening for patients who have undergone radical cystectomy so as to motivate them to have proper nutrition protocol introduced in future.
    This pilot research involved 14 patients with urinary bladder cancer treated at the Urology Clinic in Nis, from September 1, 2005 to March 1, 2007. All the patients had undergone a surgical procedure of radical cystectomy with urinary diversion. Postoperatively, all the patients were treated with total parenteral and enteral nutrition, while indication for starting a liquid diet was the point when peristalsis occurred. Nutrition parameters were measured preoperatively and on the first, third and fifth day following the surgery. Nutrition parameters included body mass index, lymphocyte count, protein and albumin values. The data were analyzed by means of quantitative analysis methods. For the analysis of the research results we used the statistic package SPSS 10.0.
    Only 1/3 of the patients in our research was malnourished. There were 71.43% of the patients with a depleted number of lymphocytes preoperatively, while there were 42.86% with lower than normal value of protein. Preoperatively, hypoalbuminemia was present in all the patients, whereas albumin level was very low in almost 1/3 of the patients, less than 35 g/l. The later the nasogastric tube was removed and the later a liquid diet was introduced, the greater frequency of postoperative complications appeared in these patients.
    Nutrition screening should encompass anthropometric and biochemical parameters as they complement each other. Earlier beginning of per os nutrition decreases the frequency of postoperative complications.

    Key words: nutrition screening, radical cystectomy, complications