Randomized Clinical Trial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2019.
World J Hepatol. Mar 27, 2019; 11(3): 305-317
Published online Mar 27, 2019. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v11.i3.305
Table 1 Demographics and operative characteristics of patients who received either immunonutrition or standard care preoperatively
ImmunonutritionStandard care
n1715
Male/Female11/610/5
Age (yr)61 (28 – 76)63 (31–79)
SGA grade (A/B/C)15/1/113/2/0
Indication for surgery
Metastatic disease1513
Hepatocellular carcinoma21
Granulomatous liver disease01
Hepatectomy
Major resection ( ≥ 3 segments)1410
Minor resection ( < 3 segments)35
ASA grade (I/II/III)1/9/60/8/6
Tissue removed (g)815 ± 123610 ± 94
Duration of surgery (min)173 (104-337)155 (128-246)
Table 2 Fatigue score and performance status measured at study entry, Day-1, POD 7 and POD 30 and grip strength measured at Day-1, POD7 and POD30 in patients who received either immunonutrition or standard care preoperatively
Study entryDay -1POD 7POD 30
P value1


GroupTimeGroup×Time
Fatigue score
STD group4.2 ± 0.84.0 ± 0.67.1 ± 0.55.4 ± 0.70.121< 0.00010.342
IMN group4.3 ± 0.62.7 ± 0.46.7 ± 0.53.5 ± 0.8
Performance status
STD group84.0 ± 3.985.7 ± 2.859.3 ± 4.273.5 ± 3.90.867< 0.00010.810
IMN group81.9 ± 2.886.8 ± 3.157.7 ± 4.875.0 ± 6.9
Grip strength (kg)
STD group-37.8 ± 2.735.4 ± 2.633.8 ± 2.30.8250.0190.849
IMN group-38.9 ± 3.436.5 ± 3.333.2 ± 2.4
Table 3 Total lymphocyte and white cell counts over the pre-and postoperative periods in patients who received either immunonutrition or standard care preoperatively
Preoperative
Postoperative
P value1
Study entryDay-1POD 1POD 3POD 5POD 10POD 30GroupTimeGroup×time
Total lymphocytes (x109/L)
IMN group1.41 ± 0.131.54 ± 0.120.93 ± 0.090.96 ± 0.100.95 ± 0.091.19 ± 0.091.47 ± 0.130.091< 0.0010.575
STD group1.66 ± 0.161.78 ± 0.131.12 ± 0.151.21 ± 0.091.07 ± 0.131.38 ± 0.121.47 ± 0.10
White cell count (x109/L)
IMN group5.80 ± 0.607.05 ± 0.7812.78 ± 1.109.81 ± 1.297.40 ± 0.9112.28 ± 2.276.80 ± 0.860.416< 0.0010.201
STD group6.86 ± 0.836.75 ± 0.5412.79 ± 1.328.99 ± 0.779.65 ± 0.9813.53 ± 1.637.40 ± 0.68
Table 4 All complications in patients who received either immunonutrition or standard care preoperatively
IMNSTDP value 1
Infectious complications
Urinary tract30
Surgical site22
Blood stream50
Gastrointestinal21
Lower respiratory tract33
Non Infectious complications
AF/Bradycardia/Tachycardia32
Acute kidney injury30
Aspiration pneumonia10
Acute respiratory distress syndrome10
Atelectasis76
Bowel obstruction13
Diarrhoea10
Electrolyte derangement43
Encephalopathy10
Hypotension20
Ileus42
Ischaemic optic neuropathy10
Leak10
Nausea and vomiting12
Pleural effusion53
Pain requiring epidural20
Pneumothorax10
Non infected collection10
Wound dehiscence10
Total infectious complications156
Total non-infectious complications4021
Total complications5527
Patients with an infectious complication1040.087
Patients with a non-infectious complication11110.445
Patients with any complication12110.598
Severity of complication0.047
Patients with major complication (Clavien-Dindo Grade ≥ III)71
Patients with minor complication (Clavien-Dindo Grade < III)510
Patients without any complication54
Table 5 Severity of complications with major and minor surgery
Severity of complication
P value1
MajorMinorNo complication
Major surgery61171.000
Minor surgery242