Patients with poor nutritional status before surgery are at high risk for pneumonia or wound ...

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Patients who are malnourished are more likely to develop infections or pneumonia after surgery because their nutrient stores may be inadequate to meet increased needs for recovery and healing. Their bodies need extra protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals to form new tissues. Malnou-rished patients do not necessarily lose more blood and body fluids during surgery and are not more likely to have nausea and vomiting after surgery. If they have pneumonia or infections be-fore surgery, it is likely that surgery would be delayed unless absolutely necessary.