Introduction Malnutrition is associated with poorer post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing surgery. Weight loss and nutritional problems are a common occurrence in cancer and IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease). This study examines the effect of weight loss and complications in a lower gastrointestinal (LGI) surgical population.

Method A prospective observational study was undertaken in patients admitted to a GI Unit at St Thomas’ Hospital (October to December 2014) for emergency and elective surgery. Data on unintentional weight loss (6 months prior to admission), LOS (length of stay), and complication occurrence was collated.

Results Data on 48 patients was collected; presented in Table 1:

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Abstract PTH-253 Table 1

Conclusion Pre-operative weight loss was associated with increased LOS and complication occurrence in patients undergoing LGI surgery. Early detection and treatment of malnutrition is an essential consideration in the pre-operative optimisation of patients undergoing LGI surgery. Planned elective admissions should have services in place to address nutritional status prior to surgery. Further prospective randomised studies would help elucidate optimal pre-operative nutritional interventions.

Disclosure of interest None Declared.

Reference

1. Dindo D, Demartines N, Clavien PA. The Clavien-Dindo Classification of Surgical Complications. Ann Surg. 2004;244:931–937