Outpatient nutrition support for malnourished surgical patients

Outpatient Preoperative Parenteral Nutrition in Malnourished Surgical Patients: A Feasibility Study

Not applicable Interventional University of Alberta · NCT03926949

This study tests if giving nutrition support to malnourished patients at home before surgery can help them recover better and avoid hospital stays.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Alberta Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Edmonton, Alberta and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT03926949 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the feasibility and impact of providing outpatient parenteral nutrition (PN) to malnourished patients before major surgery. Traditionally, pre-operative PN requires hospital admission, which can lead to increased costs and complications. By administering PN in an outpatient setting, the study aims to improve surgical outcomes while reducing hospital stays. The study will assess both the practicality of this approach and its effects on patient recovery.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who are identified as malnourished based on specific screening tools.

Not a fit: Patients undergoing minor surgeries, those with severe systemic diseases, or those with diabetes may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve surgical outcomes for malnourished patients while minimizing hospital-related complications.

How similar studies have performed: While outpatient PN has not been extensively studied in this context, similar approaches in nutrition support have shown promise in improving patient outcomes.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients 18 years of age or older
2. Patients screened at risk of malnutrition by Canadian Nutrition Screening Tool (CNST) and identified as malnourished by subjective global assessment (SGA) B or C

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients undergoing minor or laparoscopic surgery
2. Pregnancy
3. Patients with severe systemic diseases defined by American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification III to V
4. Patients with diabetes mellitus
5. Patients with planned palliative treatment

Where this trial is running

Edmonton, Alberta and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions MalnutritionSurgery
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.