Nutrition therapy for the critically ill surgical patient: we need to do better!

Background: To identify opportunities for quality improvement, the nutrition adequacy of critically ill surgical patients, in contrast to medical patients, is described. Methods: International, prospective, and observational studies conducted in 2007 and 2008 in 269 intensive care units (ICUs) were combined for purposes of this analysis. Sites provided institutional and patient characteristics and nutrition data from ICU admission to ICU discharge for maximum of 12 days. Medical and surgical patients staying in ICU at least 3 days were compared. Results: A total of 5497 mechanically ventilated adult patients were enrolled; 37.7% had surgical ICU admission diagnosis. Surgical patients were less likely to receive enteral nutrition (EN) (54.6% vs 77.8%) and more likely to receive parenteral nutrition (PN) (13.9% vs 4.4%) (P < .0001). Among patients initiating EN in ICU, surgical patients started EN 21.0 hours later on average (57.8 vs 36.8 hours, P < .0001). Consequently, surgical patients received less of their prescribed calories from EN (33.4% vs 49.6%, P < .0001) or from all nutrition sources (45.8% vs 56.1%, P < .0001). These differences remained after adjustment for patient and site characteristics. Patients undergoing cardiovascular and gastrointestinal surgery were more likely to use PN, were less likely to use EN, started EN later, and had lower total nutrition and EN adequacy rates compared with other surgical patients. Use of feeding and/or glycemic control protocols was associated with increased nutrition adequacy. Conclusions: Surgical patients receive less nutrition than medical patients. Cardiovascular and gastrointestinal surgery patients are at highest risk of iatrogenic malnutrition. Strategies to improve nutrition performance, including use of protocols, are needed.     

Multitargeted Feeding Strategies Improve Nutrition Outcome and Are Associated With Reduced Pneumonia in a Level 1 Trauma Intensive Care Unit

Background: Factors impeding delivery of adequate enteral nutrition (EN) to trauma patients include delayed EN initiation, frequent surgeries and procedures, and postoperative ileus. We employed 3 feeding strategies to optimize EN delivery: (1) early EN initiation, (2) preoperative no nil per os feeding protocol, and (3) a catch‐up feeding protocol. This study compared nutrition adequacy and clinical outcomes before and after implementation of these feeding strategies. Methods: All trauma patients aged ≥18 years requiring mechanical ventilation for ≥7 days and receiving EN were included. Patients who sustained nonsurvivable injuries, received parenteral nutrition, or were readmitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were excluded. EN data were collected until patients received an oral diet or were discharged from the ICU. The improvement was quantified by comparing nutrition adequacy and outcomes between April 2014–May 2015 (intervention) and May 2012–June 2013 (baseline). Results: The intervention group (n = 118) received significantly more calories (94% vs 75%, P < .001) and protein (104% vs 74%, P < .001) than the baseline group (n = 121). The percentage of patients receiving EN within 24 and 48 hours of ICU admission increased from 41% to 70% and from 79% to 96% respectively after intervention (P < .001). Although there were fewer 28‐ay ventilator‐free days in the intervention group than in the baseline group (12 vs 16 days, P = .03), receipt of the intervention was associated with a significant reduction in pneumonia (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.31–0.89; P = .017) after adjusting sex and Injury Severity Score. Conclusions: Implementation of multitargeted feeding strategies resulted in a significant increase in nutrition adequacy and a significant reduction in pneumonia.     

Implementing the PEP uP Protocol in Critical Care Units in Canada

Background: Previous studies have documented widespread iatrogenic underfeeding in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. In an experimental setting, we demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a novel enteral feeding protocol designed to overcome the main barriers to adequate delivery of enteral nutrition (EN), the Enhanced Protein‐Energy Provision via the Enteral Route Feeding Protocol (PEP uP protocol). The purpose of this article is to describe our experience with implementing this feeding protocol under “real‐world” settings in Canada. Materials and Methods: This study is a multicenter quality improvement initiative with a concurrent control group. Selected ICUs implemented the PEP uP protocol, and nutrition practices and outcomes were compared with a concurrent control group of ICUs. Results: In 2013, of the 24 ICUs from Canada that participated in the International Nutrition Survey, 8 implemented the PEP uP protocol and the remaining 16 served as concurrent control sites. Patients at PEP uP sites received 60.1% of their prescribed energy requirements from EN compared with 49.9% in patients from control hospitals (P = .02). In addition, patients in PEP uP protocol sites received more protein from EN (61.0% vs 49.7% of prescribed amounts; P = .01), were more likely to receive protein supplements (71.8% vs 47.7%; P = .01), and were more likely to receive >80% of their protein requirements by day 3 (46.1% vs 29.3%; P = .05) compared with patients in control hospitals. Conclusions: In the real‐life setting, the PEP uP protocol can improve the delivery of EN to critically ill patients.     

Gastric vs Small Bowel Feeding in Critically Ill Neurologically Injured Patients

Background: To evaluate gastric compared with small bowel feeding on nutrition and clinical outcomes in critically ill, neurologically injured patients. Materials and Methods: International, prospective observational studies involving 353 intensive care units (ICUs) were included. Eligible patients were critically ill, mechanically ventilated with neurological diagnoses who remained in the ICU and received enteral nutrition (EN) exclusively for at least 3 days. Sites provided data, including patient characteristics, nutrition practices, and 60‐day outcomes. Patients receiving gastric or small bowel feeding were compared. Covariates including age, sex, body mass index, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score were used in the adjusted analyses. Results: Of the 1691 patients who met our inclusion criteria, 1407 (94.1%) received gastric feeding and 88 (5.9%) received small bowel feeding. Adequacy of calories from EN was highest in the gastric group (60.2% and 52.3%, respectively, unadjusted analysis; P = .001), but this was not significant in the adjusted model (P = .428). The likelihood of EN interruptions due to gastrointestinal (GI) complications was higher for the gastric group (19.6% vs 4.7%, unadjusted model; P = .015). There were no significant differences in the rate of discontinuation of mechanical ventilation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66–1.12; P = .270) or the rate of being discharged alive from the ICU (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.72–1.23; P = .641) and hospital (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.87–1.55; P = .307) after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: Despite a higher likelihood of EN interruptions due to GI complications, gastric feeding may be associated with better nutrition adequacy, but neither route is associated with better clinical outcomes.     

Prevalence,Risk Factors,Clinical Consequences,and Treatment of Enteral Feed Intolerance During Critical Illness

Background: We aimed to determine the incidence of enteral feed intolerance and factors associated with intolerance and to assess the influence of intolerance on nutrition and clinical outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from an international observational cohort study of nutrition practices among 167 intensive care units (ICUs). Data were collected on nutrition adequacy, ventilator‐free days (VFDs), ICU stay, and 60‐day mortality. Intolerance was defined as interruption of enteral nutrition (EN) due to gastrointestinal (GI) reasons (large gastric residuals, abdominal distension, emesis, diarrhea, or subjective discomfort). Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for intolerance and their clinical significance. A sensitivity analysis restricted to sites specifying a gastric residual volume ≥200 mL to identify intolerance was also conducted. Results: Data from 1,888 ICU patients were included. The incidence of intolerance was 30.5% and occurred after a median 3 days from EN initiation. Patients remained intolerant for a mean (±SD) duration of 1.9 ± 1.3 days . Intolerance was associated with worse nutrition adequacy vs the tolerant (56% vs 64%, P < .0001), fewer VFDs (2.5 vs 11.2, P < .0001), increased ICU stay (14.4 vs 11.3 days, P < .0001), and increased mortality (30.8% vs 26.2, P = .04). The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that intolerance remained associated with negative outcomes. Although mortality was greater among the intolerant patients, this was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Intolerance occurs frequently during EN in critically ill patients and is associated with poorer nutrition and clinical outcomes.     

Nutrition Therapy for the Critically Ill Surgical Patient With Aortic Aneurysmal Rupture

Background: Our goal is to define nutrition therapy in critically ill patients after surgical repair of acute ruptured or dissecting aortic aneurysm to identify opportunities for quality improvement. Methods: International, prospective studies in 2007–2009 and 2011 were combined. Sites provided institutional and patient characteristics including from intensive care units (ICUs) admission to ICU discharge for a maximum of 12 days. We selected patients with aortic aneurysmal rupture or acute dissection staying in the ICU for ≥ 3 days. Results: There were 104 eligible patients from 72 distinct ICUs analyzed. Overall, 86.5% received artificial nutrition. There were 50.0% patients who received enteral nutrition (EN) only, 29.8% patients received a combination of EN and parenteral nutrition (PN), 6.7% patients received PN only, and 13.5% did not receive any nutrition. The mean time from admission to initiation of EN was 3.0 days (SD ± 2.4 days). The adequacy of calories from nutrition support was 46.8% (range 0%‐111%) with a mean of 10.0 kcal/kg/day. Of the total of 83 patients who received EN, 53 patients (63.8%) had interruption of EN. The reasons included fasting, intolerance, patients deemed too sick for enteral feeding, and loss of enteral feeding route. For patients with gastrointestinal intolerance, 3/30 patients (10%) received small bowel feeding and 23/30 patients (76.7%) of patients received motility agents. Conclusion: Postoperative critically ill patients with aortic aneurysmal rupture or acute dissection are at high risk for inadequate nutrition therapy, and there may be inadequate utilization of strategies to improve nutrition uptake.     

When early enteral feeding is not possible in critically ill patients: results of a multicenter observational study

Background: Early enteral nutrition (EN) is the preferred strategy for feeding the critically ill; however, it is not always possible to initiate EN within the recommended 24 to 48 hours. When these situations arise, controversy exists whether to start feeding early via the parenteral route or to delay feeding until EN can be provided. Methods: A multicenter, international, observational study examined nutrition practices in intensive care units (ICUs). Eligible patients were critically ill patients with a medical diagnosis who remained in the ICU for >72 hours and received EN >48 hours after admission. Data were collected on site, including patient characteristics, daily nutrition practices, and outcomes at 60 days. Nutrition and clinical outcomes were compared between 3 groups of patients: (1) early parenteral nutrition (PN) (<48 hours after admission) and late EN (>48 hours after admission), (2) late PN and late EN, and (3) late EN and no PN. Results: Of the 703 patients who met our inclusion criteria, 541 (77.0%) medical patients received late EN and no PN. In patients receiving late EN and PN, 83 (11.8%) received early PN and 79 (11.2%) received late PN. Adequacy of calories and protein from total nutrition was highest in the early PN group (74.1% ± 21.2% and 71.5% ± 24.9%, respectively) and lowest in the late EN group (42.9% ± 21.2% and 38.7% ± 21.6%) (P < .001). The proportion of patients dead or remaining in hospital was significantly higher for early PN compared with late EN and PN (unadjusted hazard ratio for early PN = 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.37–0.83, P = .015). However, this difference did not remain significant (P = .65) after adjustment for baseline characteristics. Conclusions: The results suggest that initiating PN early, when it is not possible to feed enterally early, may improve provision of calories and protein but is not associated with better clinical outcomes compared with late EN or PN.     

Commercial enteral formulas and nutrition support teams improve the outcome of home enteral tube feeding

Background: The benefits of home enteral tube feeding (HETF) provided by nutrition support teams (NSTs) have been questioned recently, given the growing costs to the healthcare system. This study examined the effect of a specialized home enteral nutrition program on clinical outcome variables in HETF patients. Methods: The observational study included 203 patients (103 women, 100 men; mean age 52.5 years) receiving HETF with homemade diets for at least 12 months before starting a specialized home nutrition program for another 12 months consisting of provision of commercial enteral formulas and the guidance of an NST. Both study periods were compared regarding the number of hospital admissions, length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and costs of hospitalization. Results: A specialized HETF program significantly reduced the number of hospital admissions and the duration of hospital and ICU stays. The need for hospitalization and ICU admission was significantly reduced, with odds ratios of 0.083 (95% confidence interval, 0.051–0.133, P < .001) and 0.259 (95% confidence interval, 0.124–0.539, P < .001), respectively. Specialized HETF was associated with a significant decrease in the prevalence of pneumonia (24.1% vs 14.2%), respiratory failure (7.3% vs 1.9%), urinary tract infection (11.3% vs 4.9%), and anemia (3.9% vs 0%) requiring hospitalization. The average yearly cost of hospital treatment decreased from $764.65 per patient to $142.66 per year per patient. Conclusions: The specialized HETF care program reduces morbidity and costs related to long‐term enteral feeding at home.     

Nutrition Therapy in Critically Ill Patients Following Cardiac Surgery: Defining and Improving Practice

Background: Malnutrition is a predictor of poor outcome following cardiac surgery. We define nutrition therapy after cardiac surgery to identify opportunities for improvement. Methods: International prospective studies in 2007–2009, 2011, and 2013 were combined. Sites provided institutional and patient characteristics from intensive care unit (ICU) admission to ICU discharge for a maximum of 12 days. Patients had valvular, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, or combined procedures and were mechanically ventilated and staying in the ICU for ≥3 days. Results: There were 787 patients from 144 ICUs. In total, 120 patients (15.2%) had valvular surgery, 145 patients (18.4%) had CABG, and 522 patients (66.3%) underwent a combined procedure. Overall, 60.1% of patients received artificial nutrition support. For these patients, 78% received enteral nutrition (EN) alone, 17% received a combination of EN and parenteral nutrition (PN), and 5% received PN alone. The remaining 314 patients (40%) received no nutrition. The mean (SD) time from ICU admission to EN initiation was 2.3 (1.8) days. The adequacy of calories was 32.4% ± 31.9% from EN and PN and 25.5% ± 27.9% for patients receiving only EN. In EN patients, 57% received promotility agents and 20% received small bowel feeding. There was no significant relationship between increased energy or protein provision and 60‐day mortality. Conclusion: Postoperative cardiac surgery patients who stay in the ICU for 3 or more days are at high risk for inadequate nutrition therapy. Further studies are required to determine if targeted nutrition therapy may alter clinical outcomes.     

A Cohort Study of Nutrition Practices in the Intensive Care Unit Following Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Introduction: Enteral nutrition within 48 hours of intensive care unit (ICU) admission is recommended for the ICU population. Major vascular surgery patients have a higher incidence of pre‐ and postoperative malnutrition compared with the general surgical population. Our objectives were to determine if early feeding (within 48 hours of admission) is achievable and well tolerated, identify factors that predict early feeding, and determine if there is an association between early feeding and in‐hospital mortality among abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 145 postsurgical AAA repair patients admitted to the ICU within 48 hours of surgery. Kaplan‐Meier methods and Cox proportional hazard multiple regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Only 35 (24%) patients received early feeding. Patients were more likely to be fed early if they were male (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8–6.7; P = .13), had endovascular AAA repair (aHR = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.4–6.2; P = .006), had less blood loss (<4 L) during surgery (aHR = 2.3; 95% CI, 0.7–7.2; P = .14), and had shorter length of ventilation (<48 hours) (aHR = 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1–4.8; P = .048). Of 44 patients fed via enteral nutrition (EN), 27 (61%) achieved nutrition adequacy (>80% EN goal) during ICU admission. After controlling for other factors, 14‐day mortality was not related to feeding time (aHR = 1.1; P = .88). Conclusion: Early feeding was achieved in a minority of patients following AAA repair, was related to type of surgery and duration of mechanical ventilation, and was tolerated as well as later introduced feedings. Randomized trials are needed to determine safety and benefits of early feeding in this patient group.     

Implementation of a nutrition support protocol increases the proportion of mechanically ventilated patients reaching enteral nutrition targets in the adult intensive care unit

BACKGROUND: Despite the evidence that enteral feeding reduces morbidity in critically ill patients and is preferred to parenteral nutrition, the delivery of enteral nutrition (EN) is often inadequate. The purpose of this study was to determine whether implementation of an evidence-based nutrition support (NS) protocol could improve EN delivery. METHODS: An NS protocol incorporating available scientific evidence; data from a retrospective survey of 30 intensive care unit (ICU) patients; and input from dietitians, intensive care physicians, surgeons, nurses, and pharmacists was developed. The impact of this protocol was evaluated prospectively in 123 consecutive adult patients admitted to a multisystem ICU who were eligible for EN. RESULTS: The percentage of patients who received at least 80% of their estimated energy requirements during their ICU stay increased from 20% before implementation of the NS protocol to 60% after implementation (p < .001). After adjusting for confounders, those in the postimplementation group received significantly more kcal/kg/d than the preimplementation group (3.71 kcal/kg/d; 95% confidence interval, 1.64 to 5.78; p = .001). Parenteral nutrition use [corrected] was reduced in the postimplementation group (1.6 vs 13%, p = .02). There was no difference in time to initiation of enteral nutrition between groups (1.76 days preprotocol vs 1.44 days postprotocol implementation, p = .9). CONCLUSIONS: The development and use of an evidence-based NS protocol improved the proportion of enterally fed ICU patients meeting their calculated nutrition requirements.     

Creating a culture of clinical excellence in critical care nutrition: the 2008 "Best of the Best" award

Objective: To develop, validate, and implement a system to reward top performers in critical care nutrition practice and to illuminate characteristics of top‐performing intensive care units (ICUs). Design: An international, prospective, observational, cohort study conducted in May 2008. Setting: 179 ICUs from 18 countries. Patients: 2956 consecutively enrolled mechanically ventilated adult patients who stayed in the ICU for at least 72 hours. Interventions: To qualify for the “Best of the Best” (BOB) award, sites had to have implemented a nutrition protocol and contributed complete data on a minimum of 20 patients. Measurements and Main Results: Data on nutrition practices were collected from ICU admission to ICU discharge for a maximum of 12 days. Eligible sites were ranked based on their performance on the following 5 criteria: adequacy of provision of energy, use of enteral nutrition (EN), early initiation of EN, use of promotility drugs and small bowel feeding tubes, and adequate glycemic control. Of the 179 participating ICUs, 81 qualified for the BOB award. Overall, the average nutrition adequacy across sites was 56.2% (site range, 20.3%‐90.1%). The top 10 performers were identified and publicly recognized. Regression analysis suggested that the presence of a dietitian in the ICU was associated with a high BOB award ranking, whereas being located in the United States or China, relative to other participating countries, was associated with worst performance. Conclusions: There is variable performance with respect to critical care nutrition practices across the world.     

Intensive Nutrition in Acute Lung Injury

Background: Despite extensive use of enteral (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) in intensive care unit (ICU) populations for 4 decades, evidence to support their efficacy is extremely limited. Methods: A prospective randomized trial was conducted evaluate the impact on outcomes of intensive medical nutrition therapy (IMNT; provision of >75% of estimated energy and protein needs per day via EN and adequate oral diet) from diagnosis of acute lung injury (ALI) to hospital discharge compared with standard nutrition support care (SNSC; standard EN and ad lib feeding). The primary outcome was infections; secondary outcomes included number of days on mechanical ventilation, in the ICU, and in the hospital and mortality. Results: Overall, 78 patients (40 IMNT and 38 SNSC) were recruited. No significant differences between groups for age, body mass index, disease severity, white blood cell count, glucose, C‐reactive protein, energy or protein needs occurred. The IMNT group received significantly higher percentage of estimated energy (84.7% vs 55.4%, P < .0001) and protein needs (76.1 vs 54.4%, P < .0001) per day compared with SNSC. No differences occurred in length of mechanical ventilation, hospital or ICU stay, or infections. The trial was stopped early because of significantly greater hospital mortality in IMNT vs SNSC (40% vs 16%, P = .02). Cox proportional hazards models indicated the hazard of death in the IMNT group was 5.67 times higher (P = .001) than in the SNSC group. Conclusions: Provision of IMNT from ALI diagnosis to hospital discharge increases mortality.     

Enteral feeding induces early intestinal adaptation in a parenterally fed neonatal piglet model of short bowel syndrome

Background: Successful small intestinal (SI) adaptation following surgical resection is essential for optimizing newborn growth and development, but the potential for adaptation is unknown. The authors developed an SI resection model in neonatal piglets supported by intravenous and enteral nutrition. Methods: Piglets (n = 33, 12–13 days old) were randomized to 80% SI resection with parenteral nutrition feeding (R‐PN), 80% SI resection with PN + enteral feeding (R‐EN), or sham SI transection with PN + enteral feeding (sham‐EN). In resected pigs, the distal 100 cm of ileum (residual SI) and 30 cm of proximal SI were left intact. All pigs received parenteral nutrition postsurgery. Enteral nutrition piglets received continuous gastric infusion of elemental diet from day 3 (40:60 parenteral nutrition:enteral nutrition). Piglets were killed 4, 6, or 10 days postsurgery. Results: By 10 days, R‐EN piglets had longer residual SI than R‐PN and sham‐EN pigs (P < .05). At days 6 and 10, R‐EN piglets had greater weight per length of intact SI (P < .05) and isolated mucosa (P < .05) compared to other groups. Greater gut weight in R‐EN piglets was facilitated by a greater cellular proliferation index (P < .01) by 4 days compared to other groups and greater overall ornithine decarboxylase activity vs R‐PN piglets (P < .05). Conclusions: This new model demonstrated profound SI adaptation, initiated early postsurgery by polyamine synthesis and crypt cell proliferation and only in response to enteral feeding. These changes translated to greater gut mass and length within days, likely improving functional capacity long term.     

Adequate Nutrition May Get You Home

Background: Macronutrient deficit in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with worse in‐hospital outcomes. We hypothesized that increased caloric and protein deficit is also associated with a lower likelihood of discharge to home vs transfer to a rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility. Materials and Methods: Adult surgical ICU patients receiving >72 hours of enteral nutrition (EN) between March 2012 and May 2014 were included. Patients with absolute contraindications to EN, <72‐hour ICU stay, moribund state, EN prior to surgical ICU admission, or previous ICU admission within the same hospital stay were excluded. Subjects were dichotomized by cumulative caloric (<6000 vs ≥6000 kcal) and protein deficit (<300 vs ≥300 g). Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared using Wilcoxon rank and χ² tests. To test the association of macronutrient deficit with discharge destination (home vs other), we performed a logistic regression analysis, controlling for plausible confounders. Results: In total, 213 individuals were included. Nineteen percent in the low‐caloric deficit group were discharged home compared with 6% in the high‐caloric deficit group (P = .02). Age, body mass index (BMI), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), and initiation of EN were not significantly different between groups. On logistic regression, adjusting for BMI and APACHE II score, the high‐caloric and protein‐deficit groups were less likely to be discharged home (odds ratio [OR], 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08–0.96; P = .04 and OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.0–0.89, P = .03, respectively). Conclusions: In surgical ICU patients, inadequate macronutrient delivery is associated with lower rates of discharge to home. Improved nutrition delivery may lead to better clinical outcomes after critical illness.     

Fat‐Modified Enteral Formula Improves Feeding Tolerance in Critically Ill Patients: A Multicenter,Single‐Blind,Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Improvement of fat digestion and absorption was supposed to relieve feeding intolerance. This trial aimed to evaluate the effect of a fat‐modified enteral formula on feeding tolerance in critically ill patients. Materials and Methods: This trial was conducted in 7 hospitals in China. In total, 144 intensive care unit (ICU) patients with estimated need of enteral nutrition (EN) for at least 5 days were randomly given fat‐modified enteral formula containing medium‐chain triglycerides (MCT), carnitine, and taurine (interventional feed group, n = 71) or standard enteral formula (control feed group, n = 73). EN intake, feeding intolerance (diarrhea, vomiting, gastric retention, and abdominal distension) and outcomes (mechanical ventilator‐free days of 28 days, length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay, and in‐hospital mortality) were collected. Results: Daily calories and protein intake were increased in the interventional feed group compared with the control feed group (P < .01). Total incidence of feeding intolerance was 42.3% in the interventional feed group and 65.7% in the control feed group (P < .001). Daily incidence of feeding intolerance was 11.3%, 18.3%, 14.1%, 25.4%, and 26.1% in the interventional feed group and 31.5%, 32.9%, 34.2%, 34.2%, and 30.4% in the control feed group from study days 1–5 (P = .0083). Incidence of feeding intolerance without abdominal distention was 32.9% in the interventional feed group and 49.3% in the control feed group (P = .047), while the incidence of abdominal distension was 26.8% in the interventional feed group and 43.8% in the control feed group (P = .03). No significant differences existed in outcomes between the 2 groups. Conclusions: The fat‐modified enteral formula containing MCT, carnitine, and taurine may improve feeding tolerance in critically ill patients.     

The effect of early enteral nutrition on hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy-induced mucosal permeability following gastrectomy

Aim: To investigate (1) the effect of hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIIC) on intestinal permeability of patients with advanced gastric cancer and (2) the protective effect of postoperative enteral nutrition (EN) on patients. Methods: >All patients were divided randomly into 3 groups: the EN group, treated with EN during postoperative period; the EN+HIIC group, treated with HIIC and postoperative EN; and the PN+HIIC group, treated with HIIC and postoperative parenteral nutrition. The lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio was used to evaluate the permeability of intestinal mucous. Results: Compared with the ratio of L/M on the day before operation (POD‐1), the ratio of L/M on POD+3 increased significantly in all 3 groups (P < .0001) and then decreased gradually. The L/M ratio of the EN and EN+HIIC groups recovered to the baseline on POD+12. In contrast, the PN+HIIC group still had an elevated L/M ratio until POD+12. The ratios of L/M in the EN+HIIC group on POD+7 and POD+12 were significantly different from those of the PN+HIIC group (0.0855 ± 0.0462 vs 0.1298 ± 0.063, P = .007; 0.0336 ± 0.0235 vs 0.0616 ± 0.0430, P = .038, respectively). Conclusion: Gastric cancer radical resection resulted in a significant increase in intestinal permeability. HIIC aggravated the injury of intestinal mucous permeability, which could be reversed by EN.     

The value of audit and feedback reports in improving nutrition therapy in the intensive care unit: a multicenter observational study

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether auditing practice and providing feedback in the form of benchmarked site reports is an effective strategy to improve adherence to nutrition guidelines. Methods: The authors conducted a multicenter observational study in Canadian intensive care units (ICUs). In January 2007, an audit of daily nutrition information was collected (type and amount of nutrition received and strategies to improve nutrition delivery). Each ICU was e‐mailed individualized benchmarked performance reports documenting their performance compared with the Canadian Critical Care Nutrition guidelines and in relation to the other ICUs. Nutrition practice was reaudited in May 2008 to evaluate changes in practice. Results: Twenty‐six ICUs in Canada participated, with 473 and 486 patients accrued in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The authors observed a significant increase in enteral nutrition (EN) adequacy (from 45.1% to 51.9% for calories, and from 44.8% to 51.5% for protein) and an increase in the percentage of patients receiving EN without parenteral nutrition (from 71.9% to 81.3%). They also observed trends toward improvements in the percentage of patients who had EN started within 48 hours (from 60.3% to 66.8%). There were no significant differences in the use of motility agents or small bowel feeding in patients who had high gastric residual volumes. Conclusion: Audit and feedback reports are associated with improvement in some nutrition practices in many ICUs; however, the magnitude of these effects is quite modest. More research is needed to determine the optimal methods of using audit and feedback to improve quality of nutrition care.     

Increased Efficacy and Safety of Enteral Nutrition Support with a Protocol (ASNET) in Noncritical Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Unintentional underfeeding is common in patients receiving enteral nutrition (EN), and is associated with increased risk of malnutrition complications. Protocols for EN in critically ill patients have been shown to enhance adequacy, resulting in better clinical outcomes; however, outside of intensive care unit (ICU) settings, the influence of a protocol for EN is unknown.

Factors leading to discrepancies between prescription and intake of enteral nutrition therapy in hospitalized patients

ObjectiveWe investigated factors leading to a reduction in enteral nutrition (EN) prescribed by a nutritional support team (NST) at a general hospital in Brazil.MethodsIn this prospective, observational study, hospitalized adults receiving only EN therapy via tube feeding were followed for up to 21 d from July to October 2008.ResultsThe 152 subjects analyzed included 38 (23.5%) ward patients and 124 (76.5%) intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Eighty percent of the targeted feeding volume was achieved on day 4 by 80% of the patients. Reasons for not receiving the total amount of EN prescribed included delay in EN administration (3.1%), abdominal distention (5.6%), patient refusal of treatment (6.8%), feeding tube obstruction (8.6%), vomiting (10.5%), diarrhea (17.9%), unknown causes (17.9%), interference by a non-NST physician (25.9%), accidental feeding tube loss (34%), presence of high gastric residual (34%), and operational logistics at the hospital's Nutrition and Dietetics Service (99.4%). There was a significant association between patients who received <60% of the prescribed EN and external physician interference (P < 0.016). ICU patients also received inadequate EN (P < 0.025). Neurologic patients had a greater chance of receiving >81% of the prescribed EN amount than cardiac patients (odds ratio 3.75, P < 0.01).ConclusionMajor reasons for inadequate EN intake are (in decreasing order) operational logistical problems, gastric stasis, accidental loss of enteral feeding tube, and interference by an external physician (not an NST member). Cardiologic patients and ICU patients are at a higher risk for inadequacy than neurologic patients.