Nutrition support and infections associated with hepatic resection and liver transplantation in patients with chronic liver disease

JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2013 May-Jun;37(3):318-26. doi: 10.1177/0148607112456041. Epub 2012 Aug 16.

Abstract

Malnutrition is common in liver cirrhotic patients who will undergo liver resection or liver transplantation. A precise evaluation of their nutrition status is thus difficult because of the presence of ascites and the edema caused by their impaired protein synthesis. Both perioperative enteral and parenteral nutrition have benefits in reducing the morbidity and mortality of liver surgery, and in general, oral nutrition supplements are recommended. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) promote protein and glycogen synthesis and regulate immune system function. Synbiotics, a combination of pro- and prebiotics, is reported to enhance immune responses. Oral nutrition support with BCAAs, synbiotics, and an immune-enhancing diet have a beneficial effect on preventing the perioperative infections associated with hepatic resection or liver transplantation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / administration & dosage*
  • Bacteremia / complications
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Bacteremia / prevention & control
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Hepatectomy
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / surgery
  • Liver Diseases / complications
  • Liver Diseases / physiopathology
  • Liver Diseases / surgery*
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Malnutrition / complications
  • Malnutrition / diet therapy
  • Malnutrition / physiopathology*
  • Nutritional Status
  • Nutritional Support / methods*
  • Postoperative Complications / microbiology
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Postoperative Complications / surgery
  • Prebiotics
  • Probiotics / administration & dosage
  • Synbiotics

Substances

  • Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
  • Prebiotics