Influence of nutritional supplements on the evolution of complicated abdominal surgical wounds of a group of patients in home hospitalization

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of nutritional supplements in patients admitted to the Home Hospitalization Unit with complicated abdominal surgical wounds. Material and methods: We have performed a retrospective study of 67 patients which presented complicated abdominal surgical wounds upon admission to the Home Hospitalization Unit. We have studied the type and amount of the supplement received, the body mass index (BMI), the albumin, and the time and cycles of antibiotic therapy. Results: The median age of the 67 patients was 69.2 ± 5.6. All patients had open abdominal wounds and 53.7% had infection with intravenous antibiotics. All patients received some type of nutritional supplement (62.7% standard, 25.4% immunomodulatory (Atempero®), 11.9% others). After one month of follow-up, the albumin mean value had increased in all patients p = 0.032, although the greatest difference was in patients who received immunomodulatory nutrition p = 0.001. The median follow-up was 84.05 ± 17.48 days until discharge. In the immunomodulatory supplement group it was 77.18 ± 13.72 days (p = 0.001). Conclusions: The data support a benefit of oral supplementation in this type of patients improving their nutritional status. The group that was supplemented with Atempero®, stood out both in the recovery of albumin levels and in a better evolution, which translates into a significantly earlier discharge.

Keywords

• Soporte nutricional
• Herida quirúrgica
• Complicación postquirúrgica