Affiliations: [a] Department of Endocrinology-Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital of Dijon, Dijon, France | [b] Department of Digestive Surgical Oncology, University Hospital of Dijon, CHU de Dijon, Bocage, 2, bd Maréchal De Lattre de Tassigny, BP 77908, 21079 Dijon, France. e-mail: pablo.ortega-deballon@chu-dijon.fr
Abstract: Malnutrition is frequent among cancer patients and must be evaluated before the surgery. Immunonutrition is a nutritional support therapy focused on modulating the inflammatory response, stimulating the immunology, maintaining intestinal trophicity and reducing overall postoperative morbidity, particularly infectious complications. Immunonutrition is indicated in elective digestive surgical oncology, and the length of administration depends on the presence or not of malnutrition. This treatment is now a standard of care in France, because the recommendations of the French Society of Digestive Surgery (2005) and its reimbursement by the National Health System.
