[Relevance of preoperative nutritional therapy for postoperative outcome].

Several studies on preoperative artificial nutrition have shown beneficial effects only in severely malnourished patients (weight loss > 15% within short time, serum albumin < 2.8 g/dl). In this group of patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery, the postoperative complication rate was reduced to 40-60%. The medical care costs saved per complication avoided were 11,000-14,000 US dollars. A 5-day period of preoperative oral application of immunonutrition containing omega 3-fatty acids, arginine and nucleotides at home may prevent the risks of preoperative hospitalization and may lead to immunomodulating effects, which in addition to the improvement of nutritional status, will be able to decrease postoperative complication rates by a further 50-60%.