Research paper
Comparison of the Initiation Time of Enteral Nutrition for Critically Ill Patients: At Admission vs. 24 to 48 Hours after Admission
Study answer
What this study found
Immediate initiation of enteral nutrition at ICU admission via nasojejunal tube improved nutritional status and several clinical outcomes versus initiation at 24–48 hours via gastric tube. Intervention group had higher serum albumin and prealbumin (P<0.05); ICU stay and ventilator time were shorter (P<0.05); lower incidences of gastric retention, reflux, and pulmonary infection (P<0.05). Authors conclude that, in the absence of contraindications, EN can be started immediately at admission (within 6 hours) with nasojejunostomy to improve nutrition and prognosis, shorten ICU stay and…
- Study & population
- Design: prospective, randomized, parallel-controlled, single-blind interventional clinical trial.
- Intervention
- Enteral nutrition using Nutrison Fibre (1 kcal/mL) started immediately via nasojejunal tube in the intervention group; initial continuous infusion at 20 mL/h via feeding pump; aim for 30 kcal/kg/day within 2 days by increasing rate by 20 mL/h as tolerated based on gastric residuals checked every 4 hours; escalate…
- Key limitation
- Small, single-center trial; 87 participants; short follow-up (up to 14 days); generalizability limited; some withdrawals not long-term outcomes.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
Objective To investigate the better time of initiation of enteral nutrition for critically ill patients, such as at admission or 24 to 48 hours after admission. Methods This was a prospective, randomized, parallel-controlled, single-blind, interventi…