Annals of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism

Original Articles

Development of a pre- and re-habilitation protocol for gastrointestinal cancer surgery: Eun Young Kim, Jung Hoon Bae, Jiseon Kim, Eun Joo Yang, Sang-Jae Park, In Kyu Lee, on behalf of the Task Force Team for Development and Trial Application of Pre/Rehabilitation Protocol in GI Cancer Surgery; Ann Clin Nutr Metab 2025;17(1):25-40. Published online April 1, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.15747/ACNM.25.0001

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Purpose
Surgical resection is the primary curative treatment for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer; however, it is associated with high postoperative complication rates and impaired recovery. Frailty, malnutrition, and sarcopenia increase morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need for perioperative rehabilitation programs. Standardized rehabilitation protocols during the perioperative period are currently lacking in Korea. We aimed to develop an evidence-based rehabilitation protocol for GI cancer patients to enhance postoperative outcomes and facilitate clinical implementation.
Methods
A multidisciplinary task force team comprising experts in surgery, clinical nutrition, and rehabilitation medicine conducted a systematic literature search and comprehensive review from 2012 to 2022 to develop a standardized pre- and re-habilitation protocol for GI cancer surgery. The protocol underwent external validation and subsequent refinements before being finalized through expert consensus.
Results
The protocol development process was organized into four consecutive phases: keyword selection, literature review and case report form development, initial protocol drafting, and external validation leading to the final version of the protocol. The final version of the rehabilitation protocol is presented in the main text and included as Supplements.
Conclusion
This protocol provides a standardized clinical guideline based on the latest evidence-based pre- and re-habilitation strategies and is designed for seamless integration into routine clinical practice. By facilitating proactive rehabilitation interventions, it aims to improve outcomes in GI cancer patients who are at high risk of postoperative complications, functional decline, and malnutrition.

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Perioperative nutritional practice of surgeons in Korea: a survey study: Ji-Hyeon Park, Mi Ran Jung, Sang Hyun Kim, Hongbeom Kim, Gyeongsil Lee, Jae-Seok Min, Heung-Kwon Oh, Jung Hoon Bae, Yoona Chung, Dong-Seok Han, Seung Wan Ryu, The External Relation Committee of the Korean Society of Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition; Ann Clin Nutr Metab 2024;16(3):134-148. Published online December 1, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.15747/ACNM.2024.16.3.134

Purpose: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols advocate reduced fasting and early nutrition to improve recovery in surgical patients. However, data on ERAS implementation among Korean surgeons performing major abdominal surgeries remain sparse.
Methods: A survey conducted by the External Relation Committee of the Korean Society of Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition assessed perioperative nutritional practices among 389 Korean general surgeons from February to September 2023. The survey covered preoperative fasting, carbohydrate drinks, nasogastric tube use, postoperative dietary progression, parenteral nutrition (PN), and oral supplements, yielding 551 responses stratified by specialty.
Results: More than 80% of respondents practiced “midnight NPO (Nil Per Os)” fasting, often at the anesthesiology department’s request, while 70%–80% reported no use of preoperative carbohydrate drinks. Most surgeons began dietary progression with water on postoperative day one, advancing to a liquid or soft diet by day two. PN was routinely prescribed by 49% of respondents, with a common dosage of 1,000–1,500 kcal/d. Oral supplements were selectively provided, with 21% of surgeons prescribing them universally.
Conclusion: The results reveal significant variability in perioperative nutrition practices across Korean surgical specialties, with many adhering to traditional practices despite ERAS guidelines. These findings highlight a need for standardized guidelines in Korea to optimize perioperative nutritional support and improve patient recovery outcomes following major abdominal surgeries.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Development of the Korean enhanced recovery after surgery audit program
Soo-Hyuk Yoon, Jae-Woo Ju, Ho-Jin Lee, Jeesun Kim, Min Jung Kim, Ji Won Park, Do Joong Park, Seung Yong Jeong
Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Perioperative nutrition practices in gastrointestinal cancer surgery: A nationwide survey among German surgical departments
Rahel Maria Strobel, Katharina Beyer, Johannes Christian Lauscher, Marc Martignoni, Christoph Reißfelder, Tim Vilz, Arved Weimann, Maria Wobith
Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

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