Andrea Colli
Nutritional issues in patients who are slated for surgery deteriorate during the perioperative period, which is frequently a risk factor for postoperative complications. The study's objective was to ascertain the association between older patients with stomach, pancreatic, and colon cancer's preoperative nutritional state and the frequency of postoperative problems as well as the length of hospital stay. 143 gastrointestinal cancer patients who were eligible for surgery and were 65 years to 68 years old were included in the study. Medical records, body mass index questionnaires, and the Mini Nutritional Assessment were also used. 9.8% of the respondents had malnutrition, and 53.5% had a risk of having it. Body mass index revealed that 28% of the patients were overweight and 14% were obese. All nutritional statuses were affected by complications, although those requiring intensive care unit treatment (36.8%), pancreatic and biliary fistulas (29.4%), and surgery site infections (58.2%) were the most frequent. Patients with gastric cancer who were at risk for malnutrition remained in the hospital longer. Overweight, obesity, malnutrition, and its risk all led to higher postoperative problems and longer hospital stays. Malnutrition and related risk, as well as overweight and obesity, are nutritional status disturbances that are associated with a higher frequency of postoperative complications and a lengthier hospital stay.