Preoperative immunonutrition and postoperative outcomes in patients with cancer undergoing major abdominal surgery: Retrospective cohort study

Background and objectives: Surgical resection is a first-line treatment for patients with cancer, but preoperative malnutrition is a risk factor for postoperative complications. This study aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative administration of an immunonutrition regimen and postoperative clinical outcomes in patients with cancer undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Methods: The Surgical Prehabilitation Multimodal Oncology (SUPREMO) retrospective cohort study, conducted from January 2021 to December 2023, included patients with cancer undergoing major abdominal surgery. Patients were categorized based on whether they received a complete immunonutrition regimen or an incomplete or no regimen. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from electronic health records for descriptive analysis. Logistic regression was used to assess the impact of immunonutrition on the risk of infectious complications, with clinical and demographic variables as explanatory factors.

Results: A total of 620 patients were included, with 49 % receiving a complete preoperative immunonutrition regimen. Bivariate analysis indicated that complete regimen administration was associated with lower intensive care unit (ICU) admission, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and vasopressor support requirements (p = 0.005, p = 0.019, and p = 0.032, respectively). The logistic regression model showed a significant reduction in in-hospital infectious complications (odds ratio 0.54, 95 % confidence interval 0.31-0.98; p = 0.044).

Conclusion: Administering a complete preoperative immunonutrition regimen may be associated with reduced infectious complications, ICU and IMV requirements, and vasopressor support use.