[Perioperative nutritional therapy and its relevance for postoperative outcome].

The clinical effect of perioperative nutrition was analyzed from 28 controlled clinical trials. Preoperative nutritional support is indicated only in patients with high-grade malnutrition and can reduce the postoperative morbidity and mortality in these patients. If the nutritional status is normal preoperatively, artificial nutrition may influence the postoperative outcome negatively. A clinical benefit from postoperative nutritional support has been proven only in patients not able to eat an adequate oral diet within 1 week. In 20% of these case a cardiopulmonary complication was observed during total parenteral nutrition. The infusion of D5W is sufficient in the majority of surgical patients even after major procedures.