The Effect of Preoperative Nutrition on Postoperative CRP and Albumin Levels in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Surgery: A Surgical Nursing Perspective

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of preoperative oral carbohydrate on postoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin levels in patients laparoscopic surgery.

Design: This is an experimental study with intervention and control groups.

Methods: Sixty-six patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included (intervention, n = 33; control, n = 33). The patients in the intervention group were given 400 mL of oral liquid carbohydrate 2 hours before surgery. Blood samples were collected from the two groups with serum CRP and albumin levels measured 2 hours before surgery and 24 hours postoperatively.

Findings: CRP levels in the intervention group 2 hours before surgery and 24 hours postoperatively were higher than the control group (P = .028; P = .014, respectively). CRP levels of the patients in the intervention group 24 hours postoperatively (26.98 ± 18.60 mg/L) were higher than the preoperative level (9.37 ± 15.68 mg/L) (P < .001). The CRP level of the patients in the control group 24 hours postoperatively (16.24 ± 16.01 mg/L) was higher than the preoperative level (3.11 ± 3.12 mg/L) (P < .001). There was no difference between the serum albumin levels of the patients in the intervention and control groups measured 24 hours postoperatively (P = .103).

Conclusions: We determined that 400 mL oral liquid carbohydrate given preoperatively had no anabolic effect on serum CRP and albumin levels.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; albumin; cholecystectomy; oral carbohydrate; perioperative care; perioperative nurses.