Predictive Value of Various Nutritional Screening and Assesment Tools and a Surgery Scoring System (POSSUM Score) for Predicting Postoperative Complications in Patients Scheduled for Abdominal Surgery.

Preoperative malnutrition in surgical patients is an established risk factor of peri-operative morbidity and mortality, post-operative complications, infections and increased length of hospital stay. The reported prevalence of malnutrition in gastrointestinal (GI) and major abdominal surgery patients ranges from 30% to 50%. For these reasons it is important to recognize malnourished patients before surgery in order to provide the most appropriate preoperative nutritional therapy which will in turn improve nutritional status and reduce postoperative complications and length of hospital stay.

The aim of the present study was to compare the prognostic power of different screening tools for post - op complications. This was a prospective observational cohort study, performed in patients scheduled for an abdominal operation in the Second Department of Surgery, Evangelismos General Hospital in Athens, Greece. All patients were screened at admission and before operation. Data were collected in a special form by the dietician and the surgeon, with the use of screening tools and the local Electronic Medical Record System called "Emrora". Patients were followed up after surgery until discharge by the surgeon who recorded any complication or case of death in a new form.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years at least
• Diseases of the digestive tract (oesophageal, gastric or intestinal), or other abdominal diseases requiring elective surgery,

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 18
• Pregnancy
• Major coagulopathy
• Permanent pacemaker
• Specific preoperative nutritional support before admission to hospital
• Unable to give consent

Patients aged at least 18 years who presented with diseases of the digestive tract (oesophageal, gastric or intestinal), or with other abdominal diseases requiring elective surgery.