This case series explores the use of targeted nutritional prehabilitation in four adult Crohn’s disease (CD) patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal surgery. The intervention combined the Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED) with partial enteral nutrition (PEN) using Modulen, aiming to optimize nutritional and inflammatory status before surgery.
Crohn’s disease is frequently associated with malnutrition and inflammation, both of which increase the risk of postoperative complications. The dietary protocol provided 30–35 kcal/kg/day and lasted between 2 and 12 weeks depending on individual clinical needs. Across all four patients, adherence and tolerance to the dietary intervention were good, inflammatory markers improved or stabilized, nutritional status was maintained, and no postoperative complications occurred following robotic intestinal surgery.
The paper highlights the potential role of nutritional prehabilitation as part of multidisciplinary Crohn’s disease management. The authors emphasize that CDED combined with partial enteral nutrition may help reduce intestinal inflammation, support mucosal healing, maintain albumin levels, and improve surgical readiness, even in patients without severe malnutrition.
Although the study is limited by its small sample size and case-series design, it supports further clinical research into dietary interventions as adjunctive therapies before gastrointestinal surgery in inflammatory bowel disease patients.