Achieving protein targets without energy overfeeding in critically ill patients: A prospective feasibility study

Associated ICU nurses' characteristics to clinical enteral nutrition knowledge at public hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen: A basis for remodeling safety and quality of care standards

Background: Nurses have a pivotal role in initiating and managing enteral nutrition (EN) and monitoring any potential complications. Yet, it is unclear whether Yemeni nurses have adequate knowledge to deliver and manage enteral nutrition safely. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the level of ICU nurses' knowledge regarding the care of EN. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2019 to March 2019. A probability sampling method was used to recruit 174 nurses from four public hospitals in the capital city of Yemen. A self-administered 17-item questionnaire related to ICU nurses' knowledge regarding EN intervention was used to collect the data. Results: Based on our findings, only 10.9% of the respondents had an adequate level of knowledge about EN care, while 43.1% of them had a moderate level of knowledge, and 46.0% of them had an inadequate level of knowledge. Only 16.1% of the participants were knowledgeable of EN pre-administration care, whereas 5.80% of them were knowledgeable of EN administration care, and 9.20% were knowledgeable of EN post-administration care. There were significant associations between ICU nurses' level of knowledge of EN care and their level of education and knowledge sources. Conclusions: The significant gap in ICU nurses' knowledge regarding EN care identified implies the need to upgrade and refresh of the ICU nurses' knowledge by implementing a regular training program concerning EN care.

A new high protein-to-energy enteral formula with a whey protein hydrolysate to achieve protein targets in critically ill patients: a prospective observational tolerability study

OBJECTIVES

Current guidelines and expert recommendations stress the need to implement enteral feeds with a higher protein-to-energy ratio to meet protein requirements as recommended while avoiding gastrointestinal side effects and energy overfeeding in ICU patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective tolerability study in 18 critically ill patients with a high protein formula (high protein-to-energy (HP:E) formula = Fresubin® Intensive; HPG) compared to a contemporary matched conventional therapy group (CTG). The primary outcome was GI intolerance defined as ≥300 ml daily gastric residual volume (GRV), vomiting, or diarrhea on days 1 and 2. Secondary outcomes were the percentage of patients reaching their protein target on day 4 and overall protein intake.

RESULTS

Groups were comparable regarding demographic characteristics, disease severity, organ failures, mechanical ventilation, and NUTRIC score at baseline. Eighteen patients completed the 4-day feeding period. The number of events of GRV of ≥300 ml/day was equal in both groups (33.3%). The incidence of diarrhea and vomiting was low in the HPG (two patients concerned). EN did not need to be discontinued due to intolerance in any group. Seventy-two percent of patients reached protein targets ≥1.3 g/kgBW/d within 4 days after initiation of enteral feeding, which was superior to the CTG (33%). Post-hoc testing showed group differences of protein intake between HPG and CTG were significant at t = 72 h and t = 96 h. Energy targets were met in both groups.

CONCLUSION

The HP:E formula containing 33% whey protein hydrolysate is well tolerated in this tolerability study. Due to the HP:E ratio protein targets can be reached faster. Larger randomized trials are needed to confirm preliminary results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02678325. Registered 2 May 2016.

ESPEN guideline on clinical nutrition in hospitalized patients with acute or chronic kidney disease

Acute kidney disease (AKD) - which includes acute kidney injury (AKI) - and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are highly prevalent among hospitalized patients, including those in nephrology and medicine wards, surgical wards, and intensive care units (ICU), and they have important metabolic and nutritional consequences. Moreover, in case kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is started, whatever is the modality used, the possible impact on nutritional profiles, substrate balance, and nutritional treatment processes cannot be neglected. The present guideline is aimed at providing evidence-based recommendations for clinical nutrition in hospitalized patients with AKD and CKD. Due to the significant heterogeneity of this patient population as well as the paucity of high-quality evidence data, the present guideline is to be intended as a basic framework of both evidence and - in most cases - expert opinions, aggregated in a structured consensus process, in order to update the two previous ESPEN Guidelines on Enteral (2006) and Parenteral (2009) Nutrition in Adult Renal Failure. Nutritional care for patients with stable CKD (i.e., controlled protein content diets/low protein diets with or without amino acid/ketoanalogue integration in outpatients up to CKD stages four and five), nutrition in kidney transplantation, and pediatric kidney disease will not be addressed in the present guideline.

Nutrition in the critically ill surgical patient

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this study was to discuss recent findings related to providing adequate and well tolerated nutrition to the critically ill surgical patient.

RECENT FINDINGS

The majority of nutritional studies in the critically ill have been performed on well nourished patients, but validated scoring systems can now identify high nutrition risk patients. Although it remains well accepted that early enteral nutrition with protein supplementation is key, mechanistic data suggest that hypocaloric feeding in septic patients may be beneficial. For critically ill patients unable to tolerate enteral nutrition, randomized pilot data demonstrate improved functional outcomes with early supplemental parenteral nutrition. Current guidelines also recommend early total parenteral nutrition in high nutrition risk patients with contraindications to enteral nutrition. When critically ill patients require low or moderate-dose vasopressors, enteral feeding appears well tolerated based on a large database study, while randomized prospective data showed worse outcomes in patients receiving high-dose vasopressors.

SUMMARY

Current evidence suggests early enteral nutrition with protein supplementation in critically ill surgical patients with consideration of early parenteral nutrition in high nutrition risk patients unable to achieve nutrition goals enterally. Despite established guidelines for nutritional therapy, the paucity of data to support these recommendations illustrates the critical need for additional studies.

Nutritional response and clinical complications in patients with post-pyloric and gastric enteral tubes

ABSTRACT Objective The present study assessed the differences in nutritional markers (albumin, transferrin, total body fat, and body mass index) and clinical complications (diarrhea, vomiting, and diet interruptions) associated with enteral nutrition. Methods This is an open-label, randomized, two-arm parallel-group controlled clinical trial. Out of 105 patients assessed for eligibility, 35 adult patients were randomly divided into two groups and followed for 28 days. The sample comprised a heterogeneous group of severely ill individuals initially treated in the intensive care units. Neurological conditions (i.e., strokes and brain tumours) were the most common reasons for hospitalization. Patients had one singularity: the clinical need for exclusive enteral nutrition therapy. One group received the diet via gastric tube and the other via a post-pyloric tube. Results The groups presented increases in the calories prescribed and administered, as well as reduced diet discontinuation. Although similar values were observed up to day 21, the post-pyloric group showed increased albumin levels compared to the gastric group on Day 28. Transferrin levels increased over time in both groups. Conclusion There were no differences in the complications recorded between groups, albeit serum albumin significantly increased in the post-pyloric group.

Protein metabolism and requirements in the ICU

The critically ill patient is highly catabolic, loosing significant amounts of protein and muscle. This proteolysis may induce a loss of 20% of the muscle mass in 10 days of hospitalization. Muscle loss may be assessed measuring urinary nitrogen excretion, muscle mass by ultrasound, bioimpedance, computerized tomography or MRI. To reduce the negative nitrogen balance, protein can be administrated enterally, or parenterally through amino acids as a part of parenteral nutrition. ESPEN guidelines recommend to administer 1.3 g/kg/day of protein to critically ill patients but this recommendation should be adapted according to clinical conditions. Elderly, obese, trauma, burn, acute kidney injury patients should receive larger amount of protein.

Macronutrients in Parenteral Nutrition: Amino Acids

The right amount and quality of amino acids (AAs) supplied to patients on parenteral nutrition (PN) reduces muscle mass loss, may preserve or even increase it, with significant clinical benefits. Several industrial PN mixtures are available so that nutrition specialists can choose the product closest to the patient's needs. In selected cases, there is the possibility of personalizing compounded mixtures in a hospital pharmacy that completely meets the individual nutritional needs of PN patients. This narrative review deals with the AA solutions used in PN mixtures. The physiology, the methods to calculate the AA needs, and the AA and energy requirements suggested by scientific guidelines for each patient type are also reported.

Nutrition therapy and critical illness: practical guidance for the ICU, post-ICU, and long-term convalescence phases

BACKGROUND

Although mortality due to critical illness has fallen over decades, the number of patients with long-term functional disabilities has increased, leading to impaired quality of life and significant healthcare costs. As an essential part of the multimodal interventions available to improve outcome of critical illness, optimal nutrition therapy should be provided during critical illness, after ICU discharge, and following hospital discharge.

METHODS

This narrative review summarizes the latest scientific insights and guidelines on ICU nutrition delivery. Practical guidance is given to provide optimal nutrition therapy during the three phases of the patient journey.

RESULTS

Based on recent literature and guidelines, gradual progression to caloric and protein targets during the initial phase of ICU stay is recommended. After this phase, full caloric dose can be provided, preferably based on indirect calorimetry. Phosphate should be monitored to detect refeeding hypophosphatemia, and when occurring, caloric restriction should be instituted. For proteins, at least 1.3 g of proteins/kg/day should be targeted after the initial phase. During the chronic ICU phase, and after ICU discharge, higher protein/caloric targets should be provided preferably combined with exercise. After ICU discharge, achieving protein targets is more difficult than reaching caloric goals, in particular after removal of the feeding tube. After hospital discharge, probably very high-dose protein and calorie feeding for prolonged duration is necessary to optimize the outcome. High-protein oral nutrition supplements are likely essential in this period. Several pharmacological options are available to combine with nutrition therapy to enhance the anabolic response and stimulate muscle protein synthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

During and after ICU care, optimal nutrition therapy is essential to improve the long-term outcome to reduce the likelihood of the patient to becoming a "victim" of critical illness. Frequently, nutrition targets are not achieved in any phase of recovery. Personalized nutrition therapy, while respecting different targets during the phases of the patient journey after critical illness, should be prescribed and monitored.

Medical Nutrition Therapy in Critically Ill Patients Treated on Intensive and Intermediate Care Units: A Literature Review

Medical nutrition therapy in critically ill patients remains challenging, not only because of the pronounced stress response with a higher risk for complications, but also due to their heterogeneity evolving from different phases of illness. The present review aims to address current knowledge and guidelines in order to summarize how they can be best implemented into daily clinical practice. Further studies are urgently needed to answer such important questions as best timing, route, dose, and composition of medical nutrition therapy for critically ill patients and to determine how to assess and to adapt to patients’ individual needs.