Prevalence of malnutrition in surgical patients: evaluation of nutritional support and documentation

Objectives: To assess the nutritional status of surgical gastrointestinal and orthopaedic patients, and to audit the practice and documentation of nutritional therapy used on these wards. Methods: Nutritional status was assessed in 244 patients using body mass index (BMI) and weight loss. Amount and length of nutritional therapy and records of the patients' nutritional state were noted from the patients' records. Results: 94 patients (39%) were mildly/borderline to severely malnourished. Sixty courses of nutritional support were given parenterally or by tube feeding. Twenty seven of these were given for less than a week. Of the remaining 33, the amount of energy given to 17 patients was less than 25 kcal/kg. There was no correlation between patient weight and energy administered. Twenty four patients received less than 1 gram aminoacids per kg bodyweight. Body weight was recorded in 59% of the patients records. Conclusion: New routines and staff education are needed.