Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
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Multiple surgical procedures required by patients with extensive thermal injuries impedes delivery of adequate nutrition support, leading to caloric deficits, weight loss, delayed wound healing, and increased length of stay. The standard practice at our institution for >20 years has been to continuously infuse postpyloric enteral nutrition (EN) during surgery. The purpose of this review was to examine the safety and efficacy of intraoperative EN support. ⋯ EN has been safely provided with marginal intolerance during surgical procedures over the past 20 years. Continuous nutrition support with negligible interruption is integral to meet nutrient needs for wound healing, preservation of weight and nutrition parameters, and optimize length of stay in pediatric patients with extensive thermal injuries.