ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on nutritional support of the urology patient and those with pathological conditions of the urinary system. Malnutrition in the urology patient can have a significant impact on outcome and lead to increased length of hospital stay and subsequent costs. Early identification of malnutrition and implementation of an aggressive nutrition repletion plan may improve outcome. Malnutrition has been associated with negative outcomes in surgical patients including infectious complications, poor wound healing, and wound dehiscence. Prealbumin, or transthyretin, is another circulating protein that can be used in screening for nutritional risk, assessment of nutritional status, and monitoring response to nutritional therapy. Enteral nutrition includes both oral nutrition and nutrition fed via a tube accessing the intestinal tract. Ideally, the least invasive method of nutritional support should be used. Nutrition can play a significant role in the management of nephrolithiasis. Obesity and weight gain in adulthood increase the risk of kidney stones.
