The state of cachexia in immunocompromised patients. View from the nurse. Review of own experience

Introduction. Today, the problem of nutritional deficiency (ND) in children undergoing conditioning therapy and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains relevant. The main goal for success is the interaction of doctors of various specialties, nurses and clinical psychologists. In the treatment process, a nurse occupies one of the key places; the process of passing nutritional support and returning to normal nutritional status depend on her knowledge, qualifications and skills. Materials and methods. Thirty-eight immunocompromised patients were included in the study (patients of the HSCT unit who received conditioning therapy). According to nutritional status: in 18 patients, ND was noted on day –1 before HSCT, in 10 patients, ND was noted on + 5–7th days after HSCT, and in 10 children, normal nutritional status remained. In terms of the incidence of adverse complications of chemotherapy (CT): nausea, vomiting, mucositis, and diarrhea were noted mainly in the age group up to 3 years; the presence of pain is more pronounced in children from 3 to 10 years; A change in the taste of the food intake was more present in the age group from 10 to 18 years. Results. The majority of patients (75 %) who received conditioning therapy and after HSCT had ND. Between the day +1 and + 7th day, mixed nutritional support was assigned after the HSCT. With the development of complications after chemotherapy, recommendations and measures were developed to reduce the effects of the treatment. Findings. Due to screening for ND and a multidisciplinary approach, nutritional support is a necessary component when conducting various types of antitumor treatment, which in turn improves the results of treatment and the quality of life of patients. On the part of the nursing staff, recommendations on the management of patients with ND and direct training of their legal representatives were actively applied.

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