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The impact of total parenteral nutrition on postoperative recovery in patients treated for advanced stage ovarian cancer

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) presumably benefits cancer patients although reports have disputed the significance of this nutritional intervention. We sought to compare the postoperative outcomes of ovarian cancer patients treated with either TPN or conservative management.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the impact of TPN and conservative management in ovarian cancer patients who underwent debulking surgery and a bowel resection. The primary study variables encompassed patient time until restoration of bowel function, number of postoperative complications and duration of hospital stay.

Results

There were 147 subjects who were selected for this study. The patients who were treated with TPN (n = 69) demonstrated a longer time until restoration of bowel function (5.77 vs. 4.70 days; P < 0.001), experienced lower pre-operative albumin levels (2.22 vs. 2.97 g/dL; P < 0.001) and endured a significantly longer hospital stay (11.46 vs. 7.14 days; P < 0.001) compared to the conservative management (n = 78) cohort.

Conclusions

Postoperative TPN in ovarian cancer patients may be inadvisable because of the increased risk for complications. Moreover, in the hypoalbuminemic patients, TPN may have not only delayed their postoperative recovery and increased hospital stay duration, but further precipitated the manifestation of nosocomial sequelae.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecologic Oncology Associates, 351 Hospital Road, Suite #507, Newport Beach, CA, 92663, USA

    Alberto A. Mendivil, Mark A. Rettenmaier, Lisa N. Abaid, John V. Brown III, Kristina M. Mori & Bram H. Goldstein

Authors
  1. Alberto A. Mendivil
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  2. Mark A. Rettenmaier
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  3. Lisa N. Abaid
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  4. John V. Brown III
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  5. Kristina M. Mori
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  6. Bram H. Goldstein
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bram H. Goldstein.

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Conflict of interest

The authors deny any conflicts of interest associated with this manuscript. Additionally, the study received institutional review board approval and with regard to patient consent, the study qualified for exempt status.

Funding

This study was supported by the Nancy Yeary Women’s Cancer Research Foundation.

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Mendivil, A.A., Rettenmaier, M.A., Abaid, L.N. et al. The impact of total parenteral nutrition on postoperative recovery in patients treated for advanced stage ovarian cancer. Arch Gynecol Obstet 295, 439–444 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-016-4227-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-016-4227-2

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