Tag: Perioperative care

According to the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), abruptly stopping total parenteral nutrition (TPN) can lead to severe hypoglycemia. This highlights the critical nature of managing TPN during the perioperative period, as the decision to stop TPN prior to surgery is complex and depends on a patient's nutritional status and metabolic stability.

According to recent studies, a high percentage of surgical patients may be at risk for malnutrition, a factor that significantly impacts surgical outcomes. A preoperative nutrition score is a standardized medical tool that helps healthcare teams identify and manage this nutritional risk, ultimately improving a patient's recovery trajectory.

Surgical procedures significantly alter the gut microbiota, which can impact a patient's postoperative recovery by disrupting the gut barrier and compromising the immune system. This raises a critical question for many patients: how exactly do probiotics affect surgery outcomes, and can they support the healing process by restoring microbial balance?

According to a recent study, malnourished patients are three times more likely to have a complication during surgery. This critical finding underscores the immense importance of a specialized dietary regimen known as pre-operative nutrition, which is designed to prime the body for the physiological stress of a procedure and promote a quicker, healthier recovery.

Abnormal potassium levels are a common electrolyte disturbance in hospitalized patients, and research shows hyperkalemia occurs in up to 10% of inpatients. This directly answers the question: yes, surgery does affect potassium levels, and understanding this is critical for a smooth recovery.

Over one-third of all sepsis cases originate from postoperative infections, motivating a focus on nutritional adjuncts to improve surgical outcomes. As interest in gut health has grown, a common question is: **Do probiotics interfere with surgery?** For most elective procedures, not only are they safe, but they can offer significant benefits for recovery.

Malnutrition affects a significant number of hospitalised surgical patients, increasing the risk of complications and delaying recovery. Understanding **what is the role of nutrition in surgical patients** is therefore vital for optimising healing and achieving better outcomes.

According to a 2024 meta-analysis, intravenous magnesium sulfate significantly improved the subjective quality of recovery on the first day after surgery compared to a placebo. This growing body of evidence explores how magnesium can help with surgery, from potentiating anesthesia and muscle relaxation to controlling pain and reducing opioid use.

Studies have shown that prolonged fasting before surgery can lead to ketosis and metabolic derangements, even in non-diabetic adults. For individuals already following a ketogenic diet, the metabolic state during the perioperative period requires careful medical management to assess if it is safe to be in ketosis during surgery. This guide explores the key risks and management strategies for a successful surgical outcome.

An estimated 23% of trauma patients arriving at a trauma center exhibit hypothermia, which is often exacerbated by rapid cold fluid administration. A Level 1 fluid warming system is a medical device designed to rapidly infuse and warm fluids, including blood and crystalloids, to normothermic temperatures (near 37°C) for patients in critical condition due to significant blood loss. This technology is a critical component of emergency and perioperative care, preventing the dangerous physiological consequences of hypothermia.