Study of the effect of early versus delayed enteral nutrition in critically ill mechanically ventilated medical patients

Abstract

Patients were scheduled to receive their estimated total daily enteral nutritional requirements on either day 1 (early-feeding group) or day 5 (late-feeding group) of mechanical ventilation. Patients in the late-feeding group were also scheduled to receive 20% of their estimated daily enteral nutritional requirements during the first 4 days of mechanical ventilation. Thirty (50%) consecutive eligible patients were entered into the early-feeding group and thirty (50%) patients were enrolled in the late-feeding group. All patients were received enteral nutrition via continuous infusion by a feeding pump. Eligible patients were followed in ICU for a maximum of 12 days or until death or discharge from ICU. The primary outcome measured was the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Secondary outcome measures was included duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital lengths of stay (LOS), hospital mortality, diarrhea, and total number of antibiotic days in the ICU. Different Laboratory parameters were monitored to each patient on enteral nutrition daily until patient becomes stable, then 1 - 2 times/week. These include: Renal function test and serum electrolytes, blood glucose, Calcium, albumin, Magnesium and phosphorous.