Effect of Preoperative Immunonutrition Versus Standard Oral Nutrition in Patient Undergoing Colorectal Surgery.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the commonest cancer in Malaysian men and the second most common cancer in Malaysian women, accounting for age standardized rate of 14.8 and 11.1 incidences per 100,000 population respectively. Oncological colonic resection is one of mainstay treatment modality for colorectal tumour. Major surgery precipitate release of stress hormones, inflammatory mediators and metabolic changes resulting in significant catabolic phenomena. This sequentially imposed significant dysfunction of the overall host homeostasis, defence mechanism and inflammatory response. Hence, the major setbacks of colorectal surgery are delay return of normal bowel physiology state, post-operative complications and prolonged hospital stay. This affects patients physiologically and psychologically. Traditionally , patients undergo major abdominal surgery will be kept nil per oral for 6 to 12 hours prior to operation. Post operatively, parenteral or enteral fluids given until bowel function returns to normal. Fortunately, the introduction of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs in last decade has led to enhanced in the recovery of patients postoperatively. The main aspects of substantial improvements in the care of postoperative patients include early initiation of oral intake as soon as possible, integration of nutrition support ,metabolic control and early mobilisation. As nutritional status plays a significant role to influence the clinical outcomes, nutrition support has been widely used for elective colorectal surgery patients. Literature reported that nutritional risk rate of cancer patients to be 26% to 76 %, higher than of general patients. Immunonutrition has been used as therapeutic options for peri-operative nutritional management in patients undergoing surgery. The nutrients of immunonutrition formula usually include arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine and nucleotides. The current international guidelines recommend that patient's with high risk of malnutrition should be given immunonutrition in perioperative period prior to major oncologic surgeries.These guidelines are based on randomized controlled trials demonstrating a reduction in the rate of post-operative complications. Oral IMPACT is readily available immunonutrition consist of 3.3 g of arginine,0.8 g of omega-3 fatty acids and 3.0 g of nucleotides per servings. It comes in sachet form which mixed with water prior to consumption. Multiple randomised controlled trial supported Oral IMPACT as immunonutrition. Nutren Optimum is a balanced nutritional supplement that enhance body natural defence and support recovery during illness. However, it does not consist all the component of immunonutritons. Hence , Oral IMPACT will be used as study sample on experimental arm whereas Nutren optimum will be used as study sample on control arm. In nutshell , it is important for proper perioperative nutritional support for patients scheduled for colorectal surgery. It remain as major advantage for successful procedure. In the light of this guideline investigators aimed to compare the effects of preoperative immune modulating enteral nutrition and standard oral nutrition supplement on clinical outcomes of the patients undergo colorectal cancer surgery.