Background: Perioperative malnutrition is common in patients undergoing esophagectomy, and nutritional support is critical for postoperative recovery in these patients. But few studies reported which characteristics of these patients were associated with post-esophagectomy inadequate calorie intake. This study aimed to explore which patients were more likely to have inadequate calories immediately after esophagectomy and the impact on clinical outcomes.
Methods: From January 2018 to June 2019, patients undergoing esophagectomy were retrospectively divided into the "adequate calorie group" and the "inadequate calorie group" according to whether they met daily calorie requirements in a week after esophagectomy. Caloric requirements met rate and clinical outcomes were compared between patients with and without complications, and with weight > 70 kg or ≤ 70 kg.
Results: Patients in the inadequate calorie group (n = 104) had significantly higher weight (p < 0.001), lean body mass (p = 0.028), and BMI (p = 0.001) than the adequate calorie group (n = 46). Weight loss after esophagectomy was reduced (p = 0.043) in the adequate calorie group. Patients with complications had lower rate of adequate calorie intake (72.8% vs. 63.8%). The caloric requirements met rate in patients with weigh ≤ 70 kg was significantly higher than those weight > 70 kg (80.2% vs. 43.2%, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The weights of patients having inadequate calories in a week after esophagectomy were significantly heavier than those having adequate calories. Heavier patients after esophagectomy should attract more attention to their nutrition support.
Trial registration: This trial was registered ( ChiCTR1900025557 ).
Keywords: Caloric requirements; Esophagectomy; Nutritional risk; Nutritional support.