PT51 - INCREASING PROTEIN INTAKE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CANCER SURGERY THROUGH SUPPLEMENTATION WITH LOW VOLUME, HIGH PROTEIN CONTAINING SHOTS

PT51

INCREASING PROTEIN INTAKE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CANCER SURGERY THROUGH SUPPLEMENTATION WITH LOW VOLUME, HIGH PROTEIN CONTAINING SHOTS

A. Chitnis^1,*, A. Chahrour², A. Jha¹, J. Le Couteur³, N. Tetlow⁴, B. Green⁵, M. Lindsay⁵, J. Whittle¹

¹Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, University College London Hospital, ²Department of Dietetics, University College London, ³Department of Dietetics, University College London Hospital, ⁴Department of Clinical Exercise Physiology, University College London, ⁵AYMES International Limited, London, United Kingdom

Rationale: Malnutrition and sarcopenia are common amongst cancer patients and protein deficiency can impair perioperative outcomes. ESPEN advise cancer patients to consume 1.0-1.5g/kg/day of protein. This quality improvement project aimed to increase protein intake in bladder cancer (BC) and gynaecological cancer (GC) patients undergoing surgery through supplementation with low volume, high protein shots (AYMES ActaGain Protein Shot – 60ml, 22g protein).

Methods: In total, 9 BC patients and 12 GC patients met the project's eligibility criteria. Malnutrition was assessed using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Sarcopenia was evaluated via HandGrip Strength (HGS) and Sit-To-Stand (STS). Nutritional status was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall. Functional assessment was completed via a Clinical Frailty Score (CFS). The 21 recruited patients received protein supplementation for a minimum of 14 days before surgery and were advised to take 1-2 protein shots daily.

Results: A summary of the project results is displayed in Image 1. The majority of both BC and GC patients were obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m²). Few BC patients had a nutritional risk, however most GC patients were found to be at risk of malnutrition, with 75% having a PG-SGA ≥2. BC patients had a notably higher HGS compared to GC patients, likely due to 79% of BC patients being male. Most BC and GC patients had a below average STS, indicating decreased lower limb strength, with the majority describing themselves as ‘fit’ in the CFS. The protein supplementation given to patients was well tolerated and meant that the majority of BC and GC patients achieved the ESPEN recommendations for protein intake, with few patients attaining this beforehand.

Image:

Conclusion: Protein deficiency is common in BC and GC patients and protein supplementation should be considered for integration into standard patient care.

Disclosure of Interest: A. Chitnis: None declared, A. Chahrour: None declared, A. Jha: None declared, J. Le Couteur: None declared, N. Tetlow: None declared, B. Green Other: The protein shots used in this quality improvement project were supplied by AYMES International Limited, UK., M. Lindsay Other: The protein shots used in this quality improvement project were supplied by AYMES International Limited, UK., J. Whittle: None declared