Clinical nutrition : official journal of the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Muscular mass assessed by ultrasonography after administration of low-dose corticosteroids and muscle relaxants in critically ill hemiplegic patients.
The present study investigates the influence of low-dose and short- term administration of corticosteroids and muscle relaxants on the muscular mass (MM) in hemiplegic ICU patients, with the aid of ultrasonography (U/S). ⋯ Muscular atrophy of the ICU hemiplegic patients is significantly influenced by the synchronous treatment with muscle relaxants and corticosteroids at low doses and for short term. This myopathy should be taken into account for the better prognosis and the safer outcome of the patient and U/S is suitable for accurate and non-invasive monitoring of MM.
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Early enteral nutrition (EN) improves intestinal integrity, motility and immunocompetence. However, technical problems such as diarrhoea and gastric residual volumes are said to be associated with the method and have prevented its implementation. We have prospectively assessed clinical problems connected to early EN. ⋯ In the cardiothoracic ICU, individually adjusted early EN is feasible with few problems.