Systematic review of peri-operative nutritional support for patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery

Background: Malnutrition is prevalent among peri-operative patients undergoing hepatobiliary surgery and is an important prognostic factor. Both hepatobiliary disease and surgical trauma significantly affects body’s metabolism and environment. Therefore, it is very important for patients with liver diseases undergoing hepatobiliary surgery to receive essential nutritional support during peri-operative period.Methods: We summarized our clinical experience and reviewed of related literature to find the way for implementing the appropriate nutritional strategy.Results: We found after comprehensively evaluating nutrition status, function of liver and gastrointestinal tract, nutritional strategy would be selected correctly. In severe malnutrition, initiation of enteral nutrition (EN) and/or parenteral nutrition (PN) with essential or special formulae is often recommended. Especially nasojejunal feeding is indicated that early application can improve nutritional status and liver function, reduce complications and prolong survival.Conclusions: The reasonable peri-operative nutritional support therapy can improve the effect of surgical treatment and promote the patients’ recovery.