Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Preparing nutrition before surgery for children
By Rempel G et al.·2026·Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Canada·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Preoperative Nutritional Optimization and Gastroenterological Challenges for Children with Severe Neurologic Impairment and Medical Complexity.
Plain-English summary
When preparing children with severe neurological issues and other health challenges for surgery, it's really important to focus on their nutrition beforehand. This means doctors need to look closely at any digestive problems that might affect how well the child is getting the nutrients they need, along with checking their physical health and lab results. Based on this thorough evaluation, tailored nutrition plans can be created, which may include both regular eating and special feeding methods. Since it takes time to improve nutrition, it's essential for the nutrition team and the surgical team to communicate clearly about when surgery should happen. Overall, the goal is to ensure the child is in the best possible condition for their operation.
Abstract
Optimizing nutrition in children with medical complexity is a crucial preoperative task for clinicians. A comprehensive nutrition assessment should include the evaluation of coexisting gastrointestinal conditions that affect nutritional status, as well as detailed physical, anthropometric, and laboratory assessments. Using this comprehensive evaluation and assessment, personalized nutrition plans that include oral and enteral nutrition support can be developed. Since nutrition interventions take time, clear communication between the nutrition and surgical teams is vital to ensure the appropriate timing of surgery.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42020035