Nutritional status of thoracic surgical patients. A prospective evaluation.

The nutritional status of 102 thoracic surgical patients was studied prospectively. Fifty patients showed combined or single abnormalities of the parameters studied. Seventy per cent of the patients with empyema were found to have abnormal nutritional values. Thirteen of 20 patients with oesophageal obstruction (malignant or benign) were also found to be malnourished or to have pathological nutritional parameter values. The diagnosis and correction of malnourishment in patients who are to undergo surgical procedures should be undertaken early.