Introduction: The metabolism of a surgical patient undergoing a procedure under general anesthesia is altered, with catabolic reactions prevailing over anabolic ones. Malnourished patients are particularly at risk. Identifying the patient’s nutritional status, taking timely action, and providing individualized nutritional support can significantly improve treatment outcomes and the patient’s quality of life. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to present, through a review of the literature, perioperative nutritional support for malnourished patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, as well as the most common barriers that arise in its implementation. Methods: A descriptive method was used, based on a review of professional and scientific literature. Articles were searched within the time frame from 2015 to 2025. The literature search was conducted in the databases Google Scholar, COBISS.SI, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Results: Perioperative nutrition significantly contributes to better treatment outcomes; however, in practice, it is often not implemented optimally. The reasons are usually related to the healthcare system, healthcare professionals, and patients, with barriers occurring at different stages of patient management. Discussion and Conclusion: An optimal outcome is possible only by eliminating systemic barriers, through early detection of malnutrition, unity among healthcare professionals, and active patient participation. More consistent adherence to guidelines would contribute significantly to better perioperative care.
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