Pre-operative nutritional evaluation in liver transplant candidates

Abstract

Objective: The high prevalence of malnutrition in patients with end-stage of liver disease requires broad intensive measures to evaluate the pre-operative nutritional status while on the waiting list, aiming early disturbance corrections and a better after-transplant prognosis. Methods: An assessment on 33 out of 44 prognosis on liver transplantation waiting list was performed from March, 2004 to January, 2005. The current body weight, dry body weight, ideal body weight, body mass index, the percentage of adequacy of dry body weight / ideal body weight, tricipital skin fold, mid-arm muscular circumference, uncorrected mid-arm muscular area, blood albumin levels, and total lymphocyte count were assessed. Results: Upon the use of the body mass index and percentage of adequacy of the dry body weight / body mass index assessments, higher frequency of eutrofic and obese patients were observed, respectively. The protein depletion was higher than fat depletion in those patients, probably related to the catabolism associated to the liver disease and physical inactivity. Conclusion: Many nutritional measures are necessary in order to improve the accuracy of the results.