J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 118(2): 168-172, 2017

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Feature topic

ROLE OF A NUTRITION SUPPORT TEAM FOR SURGICAL PATIENTS

A number of studies have reported that malnutrition is documented in up to 50％ of hospitalized patients, and malnutrition is closely correlated with the incidence of postoperative complications in surgical patients. The concept of a nutrition support team (NST) is to use its expertise for the entire spectrum of nutritional and metabolic support and to reduce the incidence of complications in hospitalized patients. It is widely recommended that the NST include a physician, dietitian, nurse, pharmacist, and other medical staff, and the physician should play the leading role in maintaining the activity of the NST. The clinical goals of the NST are defined as the identification of nutritionally impaired patients, making nutritional assessments that can lead to precise dietary therapy, and the provision of effective nutritional support. Educating medical students, residents, and other clinical staff in clinical nutrition will be an important role for NSTs in the near future.

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