NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PATIENTS IN SURGERY WARD

N.Junior Sundresh
Associate Professor in Surgery, Rajah Muthiah Medical College & Hospital, Annamalai University, Chidambaram- 608002, Tamilnadu, India.
K.Haritha
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Annamalai University, Chidambaram- 608002, Tamilnadu, India.
K.Ashwini
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Annamalai University, Chidambaram- 608002, Tamilnadu, India.
B.Anilkumar
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Annamalai University, Chidambaram- 608002, Tamilnadu, India.
P.Padmini
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Annamalai University, Chidambaram- 608002, Tamilnadu, India.
N.Charan
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Annamalai University, Chidambaram- 608002, Tamilnadu, India.
T.Adiveni
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Annamalai University, Chidambaram- 608002, Tamilnadu, India.

Nutritional status ,MUST ,BMI and Lymphocyte count ,

While most patients will progress to oral nutrition after surgery and require little or no intervention, major surgery or postoperative complications can delay the prescription of an oral diet. In such patients, nutritional requirements are often increased to support wound healing and hyper-metabolism associated with surgical recovery. Without adequate nutrition, muscle wasting, immune dysfunction, and declining visceral protein status are observed. To study the nutritional status, lymphocyte count, hemoglobin values and length of hospital stay of patients due to malnutrition. Study design: 150 consecutive patients in surgery ward were included in the study for a period of 6 months. The nutritional status of surgical patients can be assessed in several ways, as follows: Clinical (history & physical examination), Anthropometry, Biochemical tests & Body composition. Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) is used for malnutrition screening. Results: Fifty-four (36%) had a MUST score of 2 or higher, this shows that there were at state of high-malnutrition risk. Length of hospital stay is high for high-malnutrition risk patients than without malnutrition risk patients. Medical personnel have a duty of care to ensure patients are properly fed, by whatever means, to meet their physiological requirements. Hospitals should review their systems to assess patients’ nutritional needs and ensure these are met. A deteriorated nutritional status is a key factor for surgical outcome. Nutritional status needs to be assessed as early as possible so that corrective action can be taken to reduce potential morbidity, including length of hospital stay and enhance self-care.

3 , 2 , 2013