Meeting the nutritional needs of the bariatric patient in acute care

Meeting the nutritional needs of the bariatric (severely obese) patient in acute and critical care can be a challenge. Assessment of metabolic needs and energy expenditure is imperative to calculate nutritional needs. Achieving adequate nutrition is a result of multidisciplinary team collaboration, with the nurse providing important data for the dietitian to calculate needs. This article reviews aspects of nutritional support of the bariatric patient including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.     

Estimating energy expenditure in critically ill adults and children

Designing effective nutrition support regimens for critically ill patients requires an understanding of the energy needs of each patient. Many disease processes result in elevated caloric requirements, whereas some clinical procedures and medications may diminish the metabolic response. Experienced clinicians are unable to predict the extent to which trauma or injury will affect energy requirements for an individual. Both under- and overfeeding a critically ill patient may prolong hospitalization and increase morbidity and mortality. Applying equations that were originally developed for healthy nonhospitalized individuals to predict the energy requirements of critically ill patients will often result in significant errors and may lead to provision of inappropriate nutritional support. The measurement of resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry is a valuable tool and can be used to predict energy requirements for most spontaneously breathing critically ill patients, but may lead to spurious results in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients. In the complex and rapidly changing context of critical illness, individualized assessment of energy requirements is crucial. Whichever technique is used initially to assess energy requirements, sequential monitoring and constant reassessment of each patient is essential to provide the appropriate nutritional care regimen. The purpose of this article is to review the equations for estimating and the techniques, practical aspects, and interpretation of measuring energy expenditure in critically ill patients.     

The patient with critical neurological disease

The known metabolic abnormalities and nutritional requirements of the brain injury, spinal cord injury, and acute stroke patient have been presented. Further investigations are required in all these conditions to identify specific nutritional requirements and metabolic abnormalities. The specific role of nutritional support on outcome, immune function, and body structure requires further study.     

脊髓损伤患者营养状况的研究进展

脊髓损伤患者的营养状况影响患者的康复及预后,未得到足够的重视,需要通过饮食控制及运动等联合措施来调节。此外,对医务人员的营养培训和对患者的营养教育都十分必要,医院的相关营养政策也应得到修订。目前关于脊髓损伤患者的营养评估标准还不健全,因脊髓损伤患者具有特殊性,对健康人群的评估标准并不适用,难以对营养不良进行早期发现。应利用评价量表、血液指标和皮肤皮褶厚度等建立适用于中国脊髓损伤患者的综合评估体系,并把营养评估作为日常管理的一部分。     

A head-injured patient: caloric needs, clinical progress and nursing care priorities.

This case study explored literature on nursing care of the head-injured patient and identified outcomes of a head-injured patient in regard to nutritional status, skin breakdown and infection. Literature review revealed head-injured patients experience a hypermetabolism requiring increased nutritional support. Patient outcomes included mild skin breakdown, infection and a 12% loss in body weight. Inadequate nutrition was the patient's most significant outcome. The patient maintained an average daily intake of 915 calories and averaged a total energy expenditure of 2337 calories, thus, demonstrating an average daily deficit of 1422 calories. Top nursing care priorities noted in the patient's chart were: alteration in cerebral tissue perfusion, potential for injury and alteration in skin integrity. Results indicated more accurate assessment of the patient's needs and inclusion of more applicable nursing diagnoses were required to ensure greater continuity in care.     

脊髓损伤并瘫痪患者心理护理探讨

目的:探讨脊髓损伤并瘫痪患者的心理护理。方法:对18例脊髓损伤并瘫痪患者不同时期出现的恐惧、焦虑、愤怒、抑郁等心理状况进行了相应的心理护理。结果:18例脊髓损伤并瘫痪患者能消除恐惧、焦虑、愤怒、抑郁等不良情绪,积极配合治疗和护理,无不良事件发生。结论:心理护理是脊髓损伤患者正确面对新生活,战胜疾病的有力保障。     

The respiratory quotient has little value in evaluating the state of feeding in burn patients

The respiratory quotient (RQ) is frequently used to predict over or under feeding in burn patients. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of RQ obtained from indirect calorimetry to assess feeding adequacy in pediatric burn Intensive Care Unit patients. We evaluated pediatric patients who received enteral nutrition by continuous duodenal tube feeding at a calculated goal rate in the burn intensive care unit from January 2003 to March 2006. RQ lower than 0.85 indicated underfeeding and RQ greater than 1.0 indicated overfeeding. Actual energy intake was recorded and compared with the energy intake divided by measured resting energy expenditure. Underfeeding was defined as a nutritional regimen providing <90% of caloric requirement; appropriate feeding was provision of within +/-10% of caloric requirements and overfeeding was provision of >110% of caloric requirements. On the basis of regression analysis, there was no relationship between energy intake divided by measured resting energy expenditure and RQ (R2 = 0.0059). There was also no relationship between measured RQ and the degree of feeding (N = 222). RQ <0.85 as an indicator of underfeeding had a low sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 77%. RQ >1.0 as an indicator of overfeeding had a poor sensitivity of 23% and a specificity of 85%. The RQ, used in isolation, is a poor method to assess over or underfeeding. Future prospective studies are needed to determine the optimal methodology for the assessment of nutritional needs in children with burn injury.     

Daily energy expenditure and basal metabolic rates of patients with spinal cord injury

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) and daily energy expenditure were measured in 48 men with complete traumatic transections of the spinal cord. Subjects were classified according to their residual motor function as high or low quadriplegic (HQ, LQ) or as high or low paraplegic (HP, LP). Measured BMR was lower than predicted BMR in almost all of the subjects and was significantly lower in the HQ group than in the other groups. High quadriplegics also expended significantly less energy while awake and over a 24-hour period than did the other groups. Measurements of BMR and total energy expenditure were significantly correlated with the level of lesion. The data provide a basis for establishing guidelines on the average energy needs of patients with spinal cord injury.     

Spinal Cord Injury Risk Assessment for Thromboembolism (SPIRATE Study)

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) during the rehabilitation phase of spinal cord injury. DESIGN: A comprehensive review of the charts of all patients admitted between 1992 and 1995 for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury. Only records including evidence for objective testing for thromboembolism were included. The analysis variables included type and location of spinal cord injury, American Spinal Injury Association classification, concomitant injuries, surgical procedures, complications, preexisting illnesses, and use of antithrombotic prophylaxis. Hierarchically optimal classification tree analysis was employed to develop a nonlinear model for predicting deep vein thrombosis. RESULTS: The analysis sample consisted of these 243 persons with acute spinal cord injury, 51 of whom had venous thromboembolism, and eight of whom died. A three-variable model emerged that identified patient groups differing in relative likelihood of experiencing deep vein thrombosis. The highest likelihood group were patients with cancer over the age of 35 yrs. Women between the ages of 36 and 58 yrs without cancer were also at increased risk, as were cancer-free men with flaccid paralysis. CONCLUSIONS: Venous thromboembolism is more likely to develop in spinal cord injury patients who are older, obese, and have flaccid paralysis or cancer. These patients should receive vigorous prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism.     

The metabolic response to stress: a case of complex nutrition support management

The ICU patient with burns, neurotrauma, sepsis, or major surgery typifies the classic hypermetabolic patient. These patients have increased energy and nutrient needs as a result of their injuries and require early nutrition support. Although these patients are likely to benefit from nutritional intervention, the complexity of the stress response to injury and subsequent changes in nutrient metabolism make the design and implementation of nutrition care challenging. This article reviews the pathophysiology of common hypermetabolic conditions and provides strategies to manage the complications associated with nutrition support.     

The challenge of assessing and diagnosing acute abdomen in tetraplegics: a case study.

The assessment and diagnosis of an acute abdomen in a spinal cord-injured patient presents a significant challenge to even the most experienced practitioners because of the muted or altered presentations secondary to paralysis. Because the patient with spinal cord injury is at increased risk for peptic or duodenal ulcers and a number of other gastrointestinal emergencies, clinicians need to maintain a high index of suspicion for acute abdomen when working with this population.     

Malnutrition in spinal cord injury: more than nutritional deficiency

Denervation of the spinal cord below the level of injury leads to complications producing malnutrition. Nutritional status affects mortality and pathology of injured subjects and it has been reported that two thirds of individuals enrolled in rehabilitation units are malnourished. Therefore, the aim should be either to maintain an optimal nutritional status, or supplement these subjects in order to overcome deficiencies in nutrients or prevent obesity. This paper reviews methods of nutritional assessment and describes the physiopathological mechanisms of malnutrition based on the assumption that spinal cord injured subjects need to receive adequate nutrition to promote optimal recovery, placing nutrition as a first line treatment and not an afterthought in the rehabilitation of spinal cord injury.     

Methylprednisolone for acute spinal cord injury.

Treatment with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone is safe and may be associated with significant neurologic improvement in acute spinal cord injury patients. Accurate calculation and administration of the prescribed therapy and identification and assessment of complications should be incorporated into the overall standard of care for the acute spinal cord injury patient.     

Principles of nutrition in the palliation of long-term conditions

Palliative care, directed toward alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life, should be available to all those with chronic or incurable illness. Good nutrition is central to such care meeting patients' physical requirements and psychosocial needs, thus helping them to maintain a sense of autonomy and normality while also promoting psychological comfort, communication, and social interaction. Many patients receiving palliative care experience difficulties in maintaining an appropriate food intake, which presents many challenges for practitioners and requires an understanding of both nutrition and patient needs. This article describes the types of nutritional support that are available in the palliative care setting, as well as important ethical factors relevant to considerations of starting and withdrawing artificial nutrition.     

Sexuality and spinal cord injury

In the United States, more than 250,000 people are living with spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI is most often the result of direct trauma to the spinal cord, but can also be associated with congenital or degenerative disease. These individuals experience physical and psychologic consequences that have a profound impact on their sexual health. Using a holistic, developmental, team approach to care, the nurse is well positioned to address the acute and long-term sexual rehabilitation needs of the SCI patient. By assisting SCI patients through the grieving process and promoting a positive, yet realistic, self-concept, nurses can mitigate potential problems in body image disturbances, decreased self-esteem, and gender-specific sexuality issues.     

急性颈髓损伤术后急性呼吸衰竭的原因分析及护理

笔分析了17例急性颈髓损伤手术后，发生急性呼吸衰竭的主要原因是脊髓继发性机械损伤，包括呼吸肌麻痹、膈肌运动受限、气管和支气管分泌物潴留、颈髓广泛性水肿和内源性继发性损伤。阐述了术后的观察与护理：包括面部观察与护理，按时准确的静脉给药，呼吸道的保护与管理，认为做好局部护理，早发现、早处理及有效的进行呼吸道管理是抢救呼吸衰竭的关键。     

Use and efficacy of a nutrition protocol for patients with burns in intensive care

The University of Michigan Burn Center uses a protocol to standardize the assessment, initiation, and monitoring of nutritional support for patients with burns of greater than 30% total body surface area (TBSA). Six patients with 20% to 80% TBSA burns were followed for 3 weeks to determine the effect of the protocol on the assessment, initiation, monitoring, and adequacy of nutritional support. The protocol calls for resting energy expenditure (REE) measurement within 24 hours of injury, to be repeated 3 times per week, for assessment of caloric requirements. Patients experienced an average delay before first REE measurement of 3 days after burn injury because measurements were unavailable on weekends and surgical days. REE measurements were used to determine caloric requirements and to tailor nutritional support to fluctuating metabolic needs. In four of the six patients a Dobhoff feeding tube (Biosearch Medical Products, Inc., Somerville, N.J.) was placed in the small bowel and enteral nutrition was initiated within 24 hours of admission, as outlined in the protocol. Two patients received concurrent parenteral nutrition because of difficulty in placing the Dobhoff feeding tube when fluoroscopy was not available. The three patients receiving nutrition solely through enteral feeding had achieved 100% of their caloric requirements by day 2, 4, and greater than 7 days after injury, respectively. Overall, the six patients received enterally an average of 75% of their caloric requirements. The major reason for inadequate enteral support was interruption of tube feedings because of tube dislodgment or multiple surgical procedures. The protocol used weekly measurements of total iron-binding capacity and prealbumin level s parameters of nutritional support.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Traumatic spinal cord injury: an acute care rehabilitation perspective

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) can have a devastating effect on the patient, family members, and acute care staff. A multidisciplinary team effort is essential for the psychosocial support of the patient and family through the injury process. SCI rehabilitation management in the acute care setting will be reviewed along with the process for selecting an appropriate rehabilitation facility.     

The complex gastrointestinal patient and Jean Watson's Theory of Caring in nutrition support.

The care of the patient with gastrointestinal disease is complex and challenging. The reasons for the complexity are varied and different for each patient. Any of these variables can affect the nutritional health of the patient, an essential element of care that supports healing, recovery, and improved quality of life. A nutritional assessment, an evaluation of the patient's nutritional status, can be used to establish the patient's weight history, dietary habits, tolerances, and likes and dislikes. Intake and output values from this assessment provide information relating to the patient's ability to meet his or her nutritional requirements orally or whether alternate methods for nutrition support need be considered, such as a feeding tube or a central intravenous catheter.Parenteral nutrition is the intravenous nutrition supplementation required when the oral or enteral route for nutrition support is unavailable or impossible. In this article, a clinical case scenario for a 34-year-old man with a history of cancer and an extensive bowel resection will be presented to better explore the decision-making process for determining appropriate nutrition support. In addition, various issues the health practitioner needs to consider when managing the nutritional health of the complex gastrointestinal patient will be explored, relative to Jean Watson's Theory of Caring.