Nutrition and Food Services
Nova Scotia Health
This presentation will cover the general processes used by the dietitian in the General Surgery Peri-operative Nutrition Clinic. Rates of patients who screened at risk of malnutrition using the Canadian Nutrition Screening Tool (CNST) will be discussed, in comparison to expected rates from the literature. This will be contrasted with rates of patients found to have protein inadequacy in the pre-operative period. We will illustrate through our findings, the importance of optimizing ALL patients nutritionally before surgery. This discussion of nutritional optimization will also include a focus on the importance of correcting iron deficiency pre-operatively and how this can impact and improve post operative outcomes.
Ashley Manuel is an inpatient clinical dietitian at Colchester East Hants Health Centre in Truro Nova Scotia, as well as the Northern Zone Dietitian Team Lead for Nova Scotia Health. Ashley has over 15 years of inpatient clinical nutrition experience, specializing in critical care, general surgery, GI, and bariatric surgery. Ashley was instrumental in developing the nutrition components of the bariatric surgery program in Truro and offers both ongoing support as well as leading research activities with the program, particularly in the area of micronutrient deficiencies. Ashley is Internationally Board Certified in Nutrition Support bringing a vast knowledge of medical nutrition therapy across all disease states. Currently, Ashley is also running a new grant funded General Surgery Peri-operative Nutrition Clinic in Truro, where she works with patients to optimize their intake and nutritional status before surgery. Ashley has a special interest in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and is a co-author on a national cookbook series entitled IBD Kitchen.