The outcome of surgical treatment as related to the response of the serum albumin level to nutritional support.

Selected nutritional parameters were studied in critically ill surgical patients maintained by parenteral-enteral nutritional support to delineate the nutritional deficits and relate the course of these patients to the nutritional status. Twenty-one of 34 patients had albumin levels of less than 3.5 grams per cent upon admission, and the albumin levels decreased even further after admission. The patients with traumatic injuries had the greatest loss in body weight and urinary nitrogen excretion. Although such large numbers of these patients had depressed serum albumin levels, the survivors were able to increase the serum albumin level to 3.5 grams per cent with intense nutritional support, whereas those not surviving such support were not able to increase the serum albumin level. The response of the serum albumin level to nutritional support is a good indicator as to the same factors preventing survival and effective use of the nutritional elements.