Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Medicine, cilt.105, sa.2, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of perioperative immunonutrition (IN) versus standard enteral nutrition (EN) on short-term postoperative outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted with 34 HNC patients (17 in the intervention group and 17 in the control group). Five days before surgery, the intervention group received 3 sachets of IN (arginine, omega 3, nucleotide), whereas the control group received 3 boxes of a standard EN product. Postoperatively, both groups continued their respective nutritional regimens for 10 days from the (nasogastric) tube. Measurements included body composition, food consumption, nutritional risk score (NRS)-2002, quality of life, biochemical parameters, complications, antibiotic use, and length of hospital stay (LOS). RESULTS: There were no significant changes in anthropometric measurements or NRS-2002 scores. Albumin levels in both groups decreased on the 10th postoperative day compared with the preoperative period (P < .05). While the C-reactive protein levels of all patients increased on the 10th postoperative day (P = .002), they decreased on the 40th postoperative day (P = .045). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of complications or LOS (P > .05). The functional scales and physical, occupational, and cognitive function scores of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group (P < .05) on postoperative 40th day. CONCLUSION: Perioperative IN support did not differ significantly from standard EN in terms of anthropometric measurements, biochemical findings, LOS, or complication rates. Nutritional counseling by a dietitian is essential for patients with HNC.