Abstract

Pediatric surgery poses unique nutritional challenges due to the critical role nutrition plays in supporting growth and development during childhood. This abstract outlines the key nutritional considerations in pediatric surgical patients and discusses strategies to optimize nutritional support for optimal outcomes. The nutritional needs of pediatric surgical patients are influenced by various factors including the underlying medical condition, surgical procedure, age, and metabolic demands. Inadequate nutrition can compromise wound healing, immune function, and overall recovery, leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased morbidity. Addressing these challenges requires a multidisciplinary approach involving pediatric surgeons, dietitians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Preoperative optimization of nutritional status through nutrition assessment, supplementation, and counselling is essential to enhance surgical outcomes and minimize postoperative complications. During the perioperative period, attention must be paid to maintaining adequate hydration and electrolyte balance, as well as providing appropriate macronutrients and micronutrients to support metabolic needs and tissue repair. Specialized enteral or parenteral nutrition may be indicated in cases of prolonged fasting, malabsorption, or gastrointestinal dysfunction. Postoperatively, close monitoring of nutritional intake and response to feeding is crucial, with adjustments made as needed to ensure optimal growth and development. Long-term nutritional support may be necessary for patients with chronic conditions or those requiring ongoing surgical interventions.