This study explored the role of nutritional support for postoperative recovery of respiratory function in patients with primary lung cancer. Clinical data of 182 patients with primary lung cancer who were admitted to Weifang People's Hospital from January 2013 to December 2015 and underwent lung cancer surgery, were collected and retrospectively analyzed. According to the postoperative diet plan, patients were divided into two groups: General diet group (n=80) and nutrition therapy group (n=102). Patients in the general diet group were given a general diet without any nutritional instruction, whereas the patients in the nutrition therapy group were given an enteral nutritional supplement in addition to a general diet. The changes of nutritional indices, recovery status of respiratory function and incidence of adverse events for patients in the two groups were observed, and the data were analyzed statistically. At day 14 after the therapy started, the body mass index, mid-arm circumference and triceps skinfold of patients in the nutrition therapy group were significantly better than those in the general diet group (P<0.05). More significant improvements in levels of hemoglobin, serum albumin and prealbumin were observed in the nutrition therapy group, and the differences in comparison with levels in the general diet group were statistically significant (P<0.05). The respiratory function was more significantly improved for patients in the nutrition therapy group as well, compared to patients in the general diet group (P<0.05). At the end of 1-year follow-up, incidences of malnutrition, lung infection and mortality in the nutrition therapy group were lower than that of the general diet group (P<0.05). The positive impact of appropriate nutritional support on recovery of postoperative respiratory function improved overall outcomes of patients with lung cancer and reduced mortality as well. The nutrition therapy is worth further clinical study.
Keywords: lung cancer; nutritional support; recovery; respiratory function.