Nutritional consequences of surgical resection of the gastrointestinal tract for cancer
Lawrence, W.
Cancer Research 37(7 Pt 2): 2379-2386
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-5472 PMID: 324615 Document Number: 117675
The nutritional consequences of major resection of the "hollow organs" of the gastrointestinal tract for cancer are reviewed. Radical surgery of the head and neck region may lead to significant nutritional problems due to the mechanical effects of surgery that limit normal methods for nutritional intake, but those problems can be overcome by tube feeding. Resection of the thoracic oesophagus or stomach for cancer may produce malabsorption, particularly of ingested fat, but the reduction of energy intake which often accompanies those procedures plays the primary role in each instance where malnutrition is produced by the operation. Those nutritional difficulties are corrected by assuring adequate energy intake. Small bowel resection rarely produces nutritional problems unless the resection is massive, so that malabsorption becomes a major problem in nutritional management, but massive resection is rarely indicated for the treatment of cancer. Radical colon surgery of any extent is well tolerated from the nutritional standpoint. An understanding of the causes of malnutrition in patients undergoing surgical resection of the gastrointestinal tract for cancer should lead to effective management of any problems that do occur.