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Enhanced Recovery After Surgery as an auditing framework for identifying improvements to perioperative nutrition care of older surgical patients

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 72, pages 913–916 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Older patients are at increased risk of malnutrition and reduced physical function. Using Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guidelines as an auditing framework, this study aimed to determine adherence of nutrition care to perioperative best practice in older patients. A single researcher retrieved data via chart review. Seventy-five consenting patients ≥65 years (median 72 (range 65–95) years, 61% male) admitted postoperatively to general surgical wards were recruited. Sixty per cent had a primary diagnosis of cancer and 51% underwent colorectal resection. Seventeen per cent and 4% of patients met fasting targets of 2–4 h for fluid and 6–8 h for food, respectively. Fifty-five per cent were upgraded to full diet by first postoperative day. Nil received preoperative carbohydrate loading. Minimally invasive surgery (p = 0.01) and no anastomosis formation (p = 0.05) were associated with receiving ERAS-concordant nutrition care. This study highlights areas for improvement in perioperative nutrition care of older patients at our facility.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship for author AB. Thank you to Dr. D Clark for assisting with classification of surgical procedures. Thank you to the staff and patients on the general surgical wards at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital for their assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Angela Byrnes, Merrilyn Banks & Judy Bauer

  2. Nutrition and Dietetics, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia

    Angela Byrnes, Merrilyn Banks & Adrienne Young

  3. Internal Medicine and Aged Care, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia

    Alison Mudge

  4. Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Alison Mudge

  5. School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Alison Mudge

  6. School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Adrienne Young

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  1. Angela Byrnes
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  2. Merrilyn Banks
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  3. Alison Mudge
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  5. Judy Bauer
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Correspondence to Angela Byrnes.

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Byrnes, A., Banks, M., Mudge, A. et al. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery as an auditing framework for identifying improvements to perioperative nutrition care of older surgical patients. Eur J Clin Nutr 72, 913–916 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-017-0049-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-017-0049-y

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