Perioperative enteral nutrition and quality of life of severely malnourished head and neck cancer patients: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study evaluated the use of perioperative nutritional support on Quality of Life (QOL) in malnourished head and neck cancer patients undergoing surgery. METHODS: 49 Malnourished (weight loss >10%) head and neck cancer patients who were included in a nutrition intervention trial were randomized to receive either no preoperative and standard postoperative tube-feeding (group I), standard preoperative and postoperative tube-feeding (group II) or arginine-supplemented preoperative and postoperative tube-feeding (group III). Of these patients, 31 completed a full QOL assessment on the first day of preoperative nutritional support, one day before surgery, and 6 months after surgery. Both a disease-specific (EORTC QLQ-C30) and a generic questionnaire (COOP-WONCA) were used. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Kruskal-Wallis test were applied for testing differences in scores between groups. RESULTS: Between baseline and the day before surgery, both preoperatively fed groups revealed a positive change for the dimensions physical and emotional functioning and dyspnea (with significance in group II, P=0.050,0.031,0.045 respectively). Group III showed a negative change in appetite (P=0.049). Between baseline and 6 months after surgery, there were no differences between group I and both pre-fed groups. There were no differences in favour of group III compared to group II. CONCLUSION: Enteral nutrition improves QOL of severely malnourished head and neck cancer patients in the period preceding surgery. No benefit of preoperative enteral feeding on QOL could be demonstrated 6 months after surgery.     

Postoperative enteral immunonutrition in head and neck cancer patients

AIMS: to determine if postoperative feeding of head and neck cancer patients, using an enteral diet supplemented with arginine, improves immunological and nutritional status, and clinical outcome, i.e., reduces postoperative infectious/wound complications and length of stay, when compared with an isocaloric, isonitrogenous control diet. METHODS: at operation 44 patients were randomized into two groups to receive: a) an enriched diet (n=23);b) an isocaloric, isonitrogenous control diet (n=21). Thirteen patients with a history of significant weight loss (> or = 10% over the last 6 months) were considered malnourished. Preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 4 and 8 the following parameters were evaluated: albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, total number of lymphocytes, lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8 ratio) and immunoglobulins. Postoperative complications and length of stay were recorded. RESULTS: 'visceral' serum proteins and immunological parameters decreased on postoperative day 1 in both groups. However, only the enriched group demonstrated a significant increase (P<0.05) in the total number of lymphocytes, CD4, CD4/CD8 on postoperative day 4, and total number of lymphocytes, CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8 on postoperative day 8. In the malnourished subgroup the administration of the enriched formula significantly reduced both postoperative infectious/wound complications and length of stay compared with the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: enteral immunonutrition of head and neck cancer patients improves postoperative immunological response. Significant clinical advantages were observed in malnourished patients.     

Differences in immune status between well-nourished and malnourished head and neck cancer patients

Malnutrition is reported to occur in approximately 30% of head and neck cancer patients. Also, impaired immunocompetence is described as a common phenomenon in this patient group. The purpose of this study was to assess the possible relationship between malnutrition and some prognostically important immune parameters in head and neck cancer patients. Thirty-two malnourished (recent weight loss >/= 10%) and 34 well-nourished patients undergoing curative treatment for advanced head and neck cancer were studied prospectively, and six parameters of their immune status (leucocytes, lymphocytes, lymphocyte phenotyping, monocytes, HLA-DR expression on monocytes and serum interleukin-10) were determined on the day of panendoscopy. Reference values for monocytes, HLA-DR expression and interleukin-10 were obtained from 43 healthy controls. Although the number of monocytes was elevated in both patient groups, the HLA-DR expression on these monocytes was significantly lower in the malnourished than in the well-nourished and control groups. Tumor stage, tumor localization, recurrence after initial radiotherapy, age and gender were not correlated to HLA-DR expression. No relationships emerged between nutritional status and lymphocyte subsets. Malnourished head and neck cancer patients show a significantly lower HLA-DR expression on monocytes than well-nourished ones and healthy controls. According to the literature this would imply an increased risk for postoperative complications. Indeed, postoperative complications occur more frequently in malnourished than in well-nourished patients.     

Association Between Preoperative Nutritional Status and Postoperative Outcome in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Head and neck cancer patients treated with surgery often experience significant postoperative morbidities. Administering preoperative nutritional intervention may improve surgical outcomes, but there is currently a paucity of data reviewing the association between preoperative nutritional status and postoperative outcome. It is therefore of importance to investigate this association among head and neck cancer patients. To assess the association between preoperative nutritional status and postoperative outcome in head and neck cancer patients treated with surgery, a retrospective study of 70 head and neck cancer patients who were surgically treated between 2013 and 2014 in a tertiary referral head and neck surgery center in Hong Kong was conducted. Clinical data regarding preoperative nutritional status and postoperative outcome were retrieved from a computer record system. Logistic and linear regressions were used to analyze the appropriate parameters. A higher preoperative albumin level was associated with lower rates of postoperative complications and better wound healing (P < 0.05). In contrast, preoperative body mass index, hemoglobin level, and absolute lymphocyte count did not demonstrate significant associations with postoperative outcome. As high albumin levels are associated with better surgical outcome in head and neck cancer patients, preoperative intervention strategies that boost albumin levels could be considered for improving surgical outcome.     

肠内免疫营养对胃癌手术病人免疫功能和急性炎性反应的调理作用

目的 :观察胃癌病人围手术期使用肿瘤特异性肠内免疫营养物 Supportan对病人的营养、免疫和急性炎性反应的调理作用。　方法 :本研究是一个前瞻、随机、单盲、对照的临床研究。30例营养不良择期手术的胃癌病人 ,随机分为两组 :1、免疫营养组 (Supportan,n=15 ) ,2、标准营养组 (能全素 Nutrison,n=15 )。两组使用等热量肠内营养 ,12 5 k J(30 kcal) / (kg· d)。术前置鼻胃管 ,使用 7天。术中均行空肠造口 ,术后 12小时开始空肠输注肠内营养 ,连续 7天。术前第 8、1天 ;术后第 1、8天抽取静脉血 ,检测血清白蛋白、前白蛋白、转铁蛋白、T淋巴细胞亚群、血清免疫球蛋白、血清 IL - 6、CRP、PGE2 浓度。　结果 :两组病人术后均有急性炎性反应的发生和免疫功能的降低。但免疫营养组比标准营养组的术后第 1、8天的 CD4/ CD8比值、血清 Ig G水平有显著增加 ;血清 IL- 6、CRP、PGE2 有显著下降 ;术后第 8天血清前白蛋白浓度有显著增加。　结论 :胃癌合并营养不良的病人围手术期使用肠内免疫营养物 Supportan可以改善手术后免疫功能的低下 ,缓解急性相炎性反应和增加内脏蛋白的合成。     

保留空肠营养管在胃癌术后化疗期间的应用价值

目的 探讨保留空肠营养管在胃癌术后化疗期间的应用价值.方法 总结42例胃癌根治术后行辅助化疗患者的临床资料,术中常规放置空肠营养管,将所有病例按术后病理分期及肿瘤部位随机分为A、B两组,每组各21例,A组保留空肠营养管并在化疗期间经空肠营养管行肠内营养,B组不保留空肠营养管在化疗期间按日常进食,分别比较两组化疗前后营养及免疫指标,比较两组患者呕吐的发生率.观察长期保留空肠营养管的并发症.结果 化疗后A组营养及免疫指标较B组明显提高,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).A组呕吐发生率为18.3%,显著低于B组发生率(35.7%)(X2=9.75,P＜0.01).长期保留空肠营养管未发生严重并发症.结论 保留空肠营养管在胃癌术后化疗期间行肠内营养能显著改善患者的营养及免疫状况,且安全可靠,值得推广.     

Nutritional Interventions in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemoradiotherapy: A Narrative Review

The present review aimed to define the role of nutritional interventions in the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in HNC patients undergoing CRT as well as their impact on CRT-related toxicity and survival. Head and neck cancer patients are frequently malnourished at the time of diagnosis and prior to the beginning of treatment. In addition, chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) causes or exacerbates symptoms, such as alteration or loss of taste, mucositis, xerostomia, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, with consequent worsening of malnutrition. Nutritional counseling (NC) and oral nutritional supplements (ONS) should be used to increase dietary intake and to prevent therapy-associated weight loss and interruption of radiation therapy. If obstructing cancer and/or mucositis interfere with swallowing, enteral nutrition should be delivered by tube. However, it seems that there is not sufficient evidence to determine the optimal method of enteral feeding. Prophylactic feeding through nasogastric tube or percutaneous gastrostomy to prevent weight loss, reduce dehydration and hospitalizations, and avoid treatment breaks has become relatively common. Compared to reactive feeding (patients are supported with oral nutritional supplements and when it is impossible to maintain nutritional requirements enteral feeding via a NGT or PEG is started), prophylactic feeding does not offer advantages in terms of nutritional outcomes, interruptions of radiotherapy and survival. Overall, it seems that further adequate prospective, randomized studies are needed to define the better nutritional intervention in head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy.     

Effect of Perioperative Immuno-Enhanced Enteral Nutrition on Inflammatory Response,Nutritional Status,and Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Major Surgery

Administration of imunno-enhanced nutritional support may decrease postoperative morbidity, mortality, and infectious complications in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to verify that perioperative enteral diet, enriched with the nutrients arginine, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and ω-3 fatty acids improves outcomes of head and neck cancer patients undergoing major surgery. Forty patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were studied. Group 1 received no preoperative nutritional support, whereas Group 2 received an oral formula with nutrients arginine, RNA, and ω-3 fatty acids. After surgery, Group 1 received a standard enteral formula, whereas Group 2 received an enriched enteral formula. Albumin (g/dl), prealbumin, fibrinogen, CRP, Il-6, and TNFa were measured 5 days before and 8 days after surgery. No statistically significant difference was observed for all the evaluated markers between postoperative and preoperative levels for both groups. The rate of complications was significantly reduced in the total number of patients receiving immunonutrition and in the particular subgroup of well-nourished patients receiving an immuno-enhanced diet. Perioperative enteral immuno-enhanced feeding in head and neck cancer patients undergoing major surgery may influence the postoperative outcomes by reducing the frequency rate of infections and wound complications.     

Effect of perioperative immuno-enhanced enteral nutrition on inflammatory response, nutritional status, and outcomes in head and neck cancer patients undergoing major surgery

Administration of immuno-enhanced nutritional support may decrease postoperative morbidity, mortality, and infectious complications in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to verify that perioperative enteral diet, enriched with the nutrients arginine, ribonucleic acid (RNA), and ω-3 fatty acids improves outcomes of head and neck cancer patients undergoing major surgery. Forty patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were studied. Group 1 received no preoperative nutritional support, whereas Group 2 received an oral formula with nutrients arginine, RNA, and ω-3 fatty acids. After surgery, Group 1 received a standard enteral formula, whereas Group 2 received an enriched enteral formula. Albumin (g/dl), prealbumin, fibrinogen, CRP, Il-6, and TNFa were measured 5 days before and 8 days after surgery. No statistically significant difference was observed for all the evaluated markers between postoperative and preoperative levels for both groups. The rate of complications was significantly reduced in the total number of patients receiving immunonutrition and in the particular subgroup of well-nourished patients receiving an immuno-enhanced diet. Perioperative enteral immuno-enhanced feeding in head and neck cancer patients undergoing major surgery may influence the postoperative outcomes by reducing the frequency rate of infections and wound complications.     

The scored Patient-generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and its association with quality of life in ambulatory patients receiving radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the scored Patient-generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) tool as an outcome measure in clinical nutrition practice and determine its association with quality of life (QoL). DESIGN: A prospective 4 week study assessing the nutritional status and QoL of ambulatory patients receiving radiation therapy to the head, neck, rectal or abdominal area. SETTING: Australian radiation oncology facilities. SUBJECTS: Sixty cancer patients aged 24-85 y. INTERVENTION: Scored PG-SGA questionnaire, subjective global assessment (SGA), QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3). RESULTS: According to SGA, 65.0% (39) of subjects were well-nourished, 28.3% (17) moderately or suspected of being malnourished and 6.7% (4) severely malnourished. PG-SGA score and global QoL were correlated (r=-0.66, P<0.001) at baseline. There was a decrease in nutritional status according to PG-SGA score (P<0.001) and SGA (P<0.001); and a decrease in global QoL (P<0.001) after 4 weeks of radiotherapy. There was a linear trend for change in PG-SGA score (P<0.001) and change in global QoL (P=0.003) between those patients who improved (5%) maintained (56.7%) or deteriorated (33.3%) in nutritional status according to SGA. There was a correlation between change in PG-SGA score and change in QoL after 4 weeks of radiotherapy (r=-0.55, P<0.001). Regression analysis determined that 26% of the variation of change in QoL was explained by change in PG-SGA (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The scored PG-SGA is a nutrition assessment tool that identifies malnutrition in ambulatory oncology patients receiving radiotherapy and can be used to predict the magnitude of change in QoL.     

The prognostic value of severe malnutrition in the development of nonthyroidal illness in head and neck cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormone metabolism is modulated by starvation and overfeeding but also by dietary composition. Unfortunately, little is known about the effect of malnutrition on disease-induced nonthyroidal illness (NTI). In this study, we investigated whether the degree of NTI after surgery differed between severely malnourished and well-fed patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS: Plasma levels of the thyroid hormones 3',5-triiodothyronine (T(3)), reverse T(3) (rT(3)), free T(4) (FT(4)), and thyrotropin (TSH) were measured on the first day before the operation and on the first, fourth, and seventh day after the operation in 16 malnourished patients who were admitted for intentional curative surgery of T1-T4 carcinomas of the head and neck. Six well-fed head and neck cancer patients eligible for surgical treatment served as a control group. RESULTS: In the malnourished group, rT(3) showed a significant increase, whereas T(3) and FT(4) decreased significantly due to the operation. TSH showed no significant change. During the postoperative course, it took 7 days until rT(3) and 4 days until T(3) and FT(4) were restored to their preoperative value. In contrast, well-fed patients did not develop NTI. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that peri- and postoperative rT(3), T(3), and FT(4) levels change significantly in malnourished patients compared with well-fed patients. Therefore, it can be concluded that nutrition status of patients undergoing major head and neck surgery should be optimized in order to prevent the development of NTI.     

Enteral tube feeding in the community: survey of adult patients discharged from a Dublin hospital

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: No previous study has examined the state of patients on enteral tube feeding in the community in the Republic of Ireland. METHODS: Fifty adult patients discharged from a Dublin hospital on enteral tube feeding were assessed retrospectively. RESULTS: Sixty-six per cent of the sample were over 65 years of age. Patients required enteral tube feeding as a consequence of swallowing difficulties caused by stroke (46%) or cancer of the head and neck (24%). Most patients were on full nutritional support and, in total, had spent over 49 years tube feeding in the community. Geriatric stroke patients were found to have poor functional ability and nutritional assessment proved difficult to carry out on many of these patients. Problems encountered with feeding included blocked tubes (30%), infected stoma sites (16%), and logistical problems regarding feed and equipment. Nutritional follow-up was not routine in patients with poor mobility, and 55% of patients on long-term tube feeding had not been reviewed by a dietitian in over 1 year. Patients had little faith in their general practitioner's knowledge of enteral feeding. CONCLUSIONS: While patients and families appear to cope remarkably well with tube feeding in the community, more support is necessary to ensure appropriate feeding and to monitor the nutritional status of these patients.     

Nutrition périopératoire : protocoles de soins

Based on texts written by experts, the objective of this paper is to propose a practical approach to nutrition for clinicians, according to the nutritional status of patients and the evaluation of surgical risk. Any patient with a nutritional grade greater than or equal to 2 should benefit from nutritional support. Indeed, current data confirm that preoperative and early nutritional support in surgery at risk can reduce significantly postoperative morbidity for patients with non-malnourished (immunonutrition in cancer surgery GI), and the morbidity and mortality in malnourished patients (enteral nutrition when possible). A preoperative oral intake is recommended 2 to 3 hours before elective surgery for clear fluids and 6 hours for a light meal. Moreover, a preoperative oral intake of carbohydrates (maltodextrin 12.5%) is recommended (except in diabetic patients). Postoperatively, early oral feeding (within 24 hours) is recommended in the absence of cons to surgery. Glutamine is recommended in case of postoperative complications.     

糖预处理联合肠内营养对胃癌手术病人的治疗意义

目的:探讨在围手术期用糖预处理联合EN治疗胃癌病人的临床意义.方法:将胃癌手术病人随机分为三组,即术前常规禁食+术后EN(A组)、术前糖预处理+术后TPN(B组)和术前糖预处理+术后EN(C组).比较三组病人术后胰岛素敏感性、营养状况、免疫水平和临床恢复的差异.结果:C组病人胰岛素敏感性、营养状况、免疫水平和临床恢复等均优于A组和B组,差异有显著性意义(P＜0.05).结论:术前糖预处理和术后EN具有协同作用,对胃癌手术病人的恢复和预后有着积极的治疗意义.     

The Role of the Enteral Route and the Composition of Feeds in the Nutritional Support of Malnourished Surgical Patients

In surgical patients, malnutrition is an important risk factor for post-operative complications. In undernourished patients undergoing major gastrointestinal procedures, preoperative enteral nutrition (EN) should be preferred whenever feasible. It may be given either orally or by feeding tubes, depending on patient compliance. Early oral intake after surgery should be encouraged, but if an insufficient postoperative oral intake is anticipated, tube feeding should be initiated as soon as possible. The use of immunomodulating formulas offers significant advantages when compared to standard feeds and the positive results on postoperative complications seem independent from the baseline nutritional status. In malnourished patients, the optimal timing and dose of immunonutrition is unclear, but consistent data suggest that they should be treated peri-operatively for at least two weeks.     

Preoperative nutritional status and prognostic nutritional index in patients with benign disease undergoing abdominal operations–Part I.

The aim of the first part of this study was to detect the incidence of preoperative malnutrition of clinical importance in patients with benign disease.

The preoperative nutritional status of 52 consecutive adult patients undergoing abdominal operations for benign conditions was studied prospectively by objective and subjective nutritional criteria. The postoperative outcome was monitored until discharge or death. The preoperative nutritional status was correlated with the postoperative outcome.

Protein energy malnutrition was identified in 20 (38%) of the 52 patients. Of these 20 malnourished patients, 15 (75%) developed complications after surgery, compared with 7 (22%) of the 32 well-nourished patients (p < 0.01). The most common abnormal values were serum transferrin concentration (n = 8), subscapula skinfold (n = 11), serum urea:serum creatinine ratio (n = 17), loss of appetite for more than 5 days (n = 24), and preoperative stay in hospital of longer than 5 days (n = 19).

These results indicate that a combination of objective and subjective criteria may be important in the identification of clinical malnutrition.     

Survival of malnourished head and neck cancer patients can be predicted by human leukocyte antigen-DR expression and interleukin-6/tumor necrosis factor-alpha response of the monocyte

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced stages of head and neck cancer are often characterized by malnutrition and by an impaired immune system. Because some of the suppressed immune parameters were shown to be of prognostic importance in trauma and sepsis, we investigated whether these would also correlate with survival in head and neck cancer. METHODS: Severely malnourished head and neck cancer patients undergoing ablative and reconstructive surgery were followed prospectively and their perioperative immune parameters were related to long-term survival. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients with a preoperative weight loss of more than 10% were followed up for a period of at least 16 months after surgery. Analyses of variance revealed that preoperative human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) expression on monocytes and endotoxin-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were different between patients who survived and patients who died. Proportional hazards identified a weight loss of more than 12%, the presence of coexistent disease, and an HLA-DR expression on monocytes below the cutoff points (mean fluorescence index < 15, peak channel index < 9) to be of significant influence on survival. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to known prognostic parameters such as tumor stage, coexistent disease, and weight loss, the immune parameters HLA-DR expression on monocytes and endotoxin-induced cytokine production may carry prognostic value in cancer patients. Immunomodulating therapies leading to improvement of these parameters might in the future lead to increased options for treatment.     

Relationship between Preoperative Nutritional Status and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

The nutritional status in cancer patients is related to cancer survival and surgical outcome. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and post-operative clinical outcomes in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. A total of 1282 head and neck cancer patients receiving surgical resection in Changhua Christian Hospital between 1 January 2010 and 30 August 2021 were recruited in the final analysis after undergoing propensity score matching analysis. The logistic regression model was used to assess the association of the PNI group with overall and various complications. The patients in the high PNI group had a significant lower incidence of overall complications, medical complications, and pulmonary complications; but not significant surgical complications. The high PNI group had lower mortality risk. The results in this study revealed that PNI score was a significant independent predictor of postoperative complications in HNC patients undergoing surgical resection. We recommend preoperative testing and evaluation of HNC patients to identify low PNI and high-risk groups for postoperative surveillance.     

Audit of nutritional guidelines for head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer patients being treated with radiotherapy are at an increased risk of malnutrition due to the severe side-effects, e.g. mucositis, odynophagia and xerostomia, impacting on the ability to eat and drink. Effective dietetic management involves identifying those patients malnourished or at risk of becoming so and incorporating nutritional intervention into their treatment plan. The use of gastrostomy tubes in this patient group has been shown to be acceptable. By placing them prophylactically, the aim is to prevent a disruption to treatment and avoid an unnecessary admission for feeding. This audit was carried out to determine whether the implementation of locally produced nutritional guidelines improved the dietetic management of this patient group. METHOD: A prospective audit tool was used to collect data on 32 head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Data was collected weekly during the course of treatment and compared with data from previous audits. Weight change was the nutritional outcome measured. RESULTS: More patients underwent combined treatment (radiotherapy postoperatively or with concurrent weekly chemotherapy) when compared with previous audits. However, implementation of the guidelines appeared to contribute to an improvement in dietetic management, as fewer patients lost weight over the course of radiotherapy and there were no admissions for feeding. The presence of a dietitian at the multidisciplinary head and neck clinic improved access and communication and this is also likely to have contributed to the improved management. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the guidelines led to an improvement in the nutritional management of this patient group. Implementation may be more likely if a dietitian is present at the combined head and neck clinic.     

结直肠癌患者的围手术期营养风险筛查与术后并发症

目的动态评价结直肠癌患者的围手术期营养风险,以期指导临床合理营养支持。方法选取新人院、未经放疗、化疗处理的结直肠癌患者144例,于术前及术后两周应用营养风险筛查2002（NRS2002）对患者进行营养风险动态评估,同时测定血红蛋白、血清白蛋白、前白蛋白水平及外周血总淋巴细胞计数,并观察术后并发症的发生率。结果术前有22．91％（33／144）的患者存在营养风险;术前预测术后营养风险发生率为43．06％（62／144）,实际测得术后营养风险发生率为54．86％（79／144）,后两者的差异具有统计学意义（x^2=4．016,P〈0．05）。术前营养风险评分≥3分的患者术后出现并发症的发生率为10．13％,评分〈3分的患者术后出现并发症的发生率为1．54％,存在营养风险的患者并发症的发生率显著高于不存在营养风险的患者（x^2=3．065,P〈0．05）。结论结直肠癌患者的围手术期营养风险发生率高,尤以术后显著,且存在营养风险的患者易发生术后并发症。