title: Optimizing Perioperative Nutrition in Pediatric Populations.
abstract: Nutrition status prior to surgery and nutrition rehabilitation after surgery can affect the morbidity and mortality of pediatric patients. A comprehensive approach to nutrition in pediatric surgical patients is important and includes preoperative assessment, perioperative nutrition considerations, and postoperative recovery. A thorough nutrition assessment to identify patients who are at nutrition risk prior to surgery is important so that the nutrition status can be optimized prior to the procedure to minimize suboptimal outcomes. Preoperative malnutrition is associated with increased complications and mean hospital days following surgery. Enteral and parenteral nutrition can be used in cases where food intake is inadequate to maintain and possibly improve nutrition status, especially in the 7-10 days prior to surgery. In the perioperative period, fasting should be limited to restricting solid foods and non-human milk 6 hours prior to the procedure and allowing clear liquids until 2 hours prior to the procedure. Postoperatively, early feeding has been shown to resolve postoperative ileus earlier, decrease infection rates, promote wound healing, and reduce length of hospital stay. If nutrition cannot be provided orally, then nutrition through either enteral or parenteral means should be initiated within 24-48 hours of surgery. Practitioners should identify those patients who are at the highest nutrition risk for postsurgical complications and provide guidance for optimal nutrition during the perioperative and postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition Services, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA nllowens@texaschildrens.org.
authors.forename: Nicki L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Canada
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition Services, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Lucille
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mullins
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition Services, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pearo
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition Services, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spoede
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative
keywords: enteral nutrition; malnutrition; nutrition assessment; nutritional support; parenteral nutrition; pediatrics; perioperative