Preoperative Nutrition Consults Associated with Decreased Postoperative Complication Rate and Decreased Length of Hospital Stay After Spine Metastasis Surgery.

BACKGROUND

Preoperative malnutrition is associated with increased postoperative complication rate and hospital length of stay. However, the degree to which these risks can be mitigated by nutritional consultation has not been well described. To address this, we sought to determine if a preoperative nutrition consult was associated with decreased 30-day complication rate and hospital length of stay.

METHODS

Adult patients who underwent neurosurgical intervention for spinal metastases at a tertiary care institution between 2008 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Stepwise multivariable linear regression analyses were used to identify associations with 30-day complication rate and hospital length of stay.

RESULTS

Among 95 patients who met inclusion criteria, the average length of stay was 8.9 days and 40 patients (42.1%) experienced one or more postoperative complications. On multivariable analysis, 30-day complication rates were higher in patients with the absence of a preoperative nutrition consult, a Modified Charlson Comorbidity Index score of greater than 2 points, greater operative blood loss, and malnutrition (Nutritional Risk Index score <97.5). Furthermore, hospitalization duration was increased with the absence of a nutrition consult, malnutrition, congestive heart failure, and prior systemic therapy in the multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

On multivariable analysis, receipt of a preoperative nutrition consult was associated with both decreased 30-day complication rate and shorter hospitalization. We therefore posit that greater implementation of nutritional counseling may help to decrease complication rates and expedite discharge in patients undergoing surgical intervention for spinal metastases.