Immunonutrition for patients undergoing elective surgery for gastrointestinal cancer: impact on hospital costs

Table 1 Perioperative immunonutrition support: clinical outcomes ^a

Outcome variable	With perioperative immunonutrition^b	Without immunonutrition	Difference or RR (95% CI)
Outcome variable	N = 442	N = 447	Difference or RR (95% CI)
Mean length of stay	13.31	15.48	Δ = −2.18
Percentage reduction in length of stay			14.1%
Percentage with any infectious complications	14.71%	31.32%	RR = 0.46
Number (%) in pooled trial populations with specific complications^c
Wound infection	26 (5.9%)	43 (9.6%)	RR 0.61
Wound infection	26 (5.9%)	43 (9.6%)	(0.38, 0.96)
Abdominal abscess	9 (2.0%)	21 (4.7%)	RR 0.43
Abdominal abscess	9 (2.0%)	21 (4.7%)	(0.21, 0.91)
Pneumonia	25 (5.7%)	47 (10.5%)	RR 0.54
Pneumonia	25 (5.7%)	47 (10.5%)	(0.34, 0.87)
Urinary tract infection	11 (2.5%)	20 (4.5%)	RR 0.53
Urinary tract infection	11 (2.5%)	20 (4.5%)	(0.23, 1.19)
Sepsis	8 (1.8%)	16 (3.6%)	RR 0.53
Sepsis	8 (1.8%)	16 (3.6%)	(0.22, 1.27)
Anastomotic leak	15 (3.4%)	29 (6.5%)	RR 0.52
Anastomotic leak	15 (3.4%)	29 (6.5%)	(0.28, 0.95)

Abbreviations: Δ, absolute difference; RR relative risk with 95% confidence interval in ().
^a Calculated from data reported in Waitzberg et al.[4].
^b Three 240-mL (8-ounce) servings of oral supplement per day for five days prior to surgery, followed by early enteral feeding (within 24 hours postsurgery) at a goal of one liter per day.
^c Note that a patient may experience more than one complication.

ISSN: 1477-7819