Nutrition in Adult Cardiac Surgery: Preoperative Evaluation, Management in the Postoperative Period, and Clinical Implications for Outcomes

Abstract

The perioperative nutritional status of patients undergoing cardiac surgery influences outcomes; therefore nutritional support is essential for these patients. Owing to the lack of solid evidence, no protocols have been established for the nutritional management of this specific population, and most of the recommendations are based on other critically ill populations. In this review of the main studies performed in this population, the importance of preoperative evaluation of nutritional status, the management of nutritional support immediately after cardiac surgery, the influence of nutrition on outcomes, and the importance of nutrition after hospital discharge are discussed. In addition, the possible influence of glycemic control and pharmaconutrition in the outcomes of these patients are described briefly.

Keywords: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery; cardiac surgery; malnutrition; nutrition risk assessment; nutritional support; perioperative medicine; postoperative nutritional management; prehabilitation.