TITLE:
Application of Early Enteral Nutrition in Critically Ill Children
AUTHORS:
Musheng Li, Lini Chen
KEYWORDS:
Early Enteral Nutrition, Childhood, Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.11 No.4,
September
30,
2021
ABSTRACT: Objective: The objective is to investigate the incidence of moderate and severe malnutrition in
children in intensive care units, and to analyze the safety and clinical
efficacy of early enteral nutrition therapy in critically ill children. Methods: A total of 80 children hospitalized in the pediatric care unit meeting the
inclusion criteria were selected and general data were collected, including 48
in the early enteral nutrition (EEN) group and 32 in the late EN group. The two
groups were compared in the incidence of moderate to severe malnutrition,
feeding tolerance, length of stay in ICU, total length of stay, changes in
blood routine and biochemical indicators. Results: After 1 week in ICU,
the feeding tolerance of the treatment group was better than that of the
control group (P 0.01). After 1 week of treatment in ICU,
serum prealbumin in treatment group was
significantly higher than that in control group (P albumin
was not significantly higher (P > 0.05). The rate of moderate to severe
malnutrition at discharge was lower in the treatment group than at admission to
the ICU (17 cases vs. 20 cases, 35.4% vs. 41.7%), but higher in the control
group (19 cases vs. 16 cases, 59.4% vs. 50.0%). Conclusion: Malnutrition
is prevalent in children treated in pediatric intensive care units. Early
enteral nutrition therapy for critically ill children is safe and effective,
that can significantly improve the nutritional status of critically ill
children, reduce inflammatory response, and shorten the hospital stay.