The association of malnutrition with surgical morbidity and mortality is well recognized. The question of whether this relationship is causal or simply an association in sick patients has been hotly debated. The field of nutrition support has grown out of the belief that correcting malnutrition will modify associated risks for poor outcome. It has been easier to substantiate this belief in some clinical situations than in others. The evidence for nutrition support during the perioperative period is reviewed and recommendations are made about where nutrition support is most useful and where it may be counterproductive. Some of the important unanswered questions about perioperative nutrition support are raised.

中文翻译：

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围手术期患者的营养。

营养不良与手术发病率和死亡率之间的关系是众所周知的。在患病患者中，这种关系是因果关系还是仅仅是联系的问题已经引起了激烈的争论。营养支持领域已经成长为一种信念，即纠正营养不良将改变不良后果的相关风险。在某些临床情况下证实这种信念比在其他情况下更容易。回顾围手术期营养支持的证据，并就营养支持最有用和可能适得其反的方面提出建议。提出了一些有关围手术期营养支持的重要未解决问题。