Importance of nutrition on patient recovery after cardiac surgery

We all know how important nutrients are to ensure the healthy functioning of the body so it stands to reason then that the right nutrition – macronutrients, such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and micronutrients, such as vitamins, provitamins, and various minerals – are essential inpatient recovery after cardiac surgery.

Nutritional deficiency can lead to post-operative complications. The problem is that it can be hard to assess nutritional health at the point of treatment as it may not always be obvious. in fact, more solutions are needed in order to assess and improve patients’ nutritional status. Using a Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) scale, researchers have been able to assess study patients’ nutritional status with greater sensitivity and specificity which enables medics to target treatment effectively.

Although more work and research needs to be carried out, it is clear that nutrition is integral to the effective recovery after cardiac surgery.

Our friends at Pharmacy Times explain in more detail, the research that has been undertaken and ongoing work needed to assess and improve patients’ nutritional status.