Nutrition
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Early enteral administration of immunonutrition in critically ill children: results of a blinded randomized controlled clinical trial.
In a blinded, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial, we compared nitrogen balance (NB), nutritional indices, antioxidant catalysts, and outcome in critically ill children given an immune-enhancing formula (I) or conventional early enteral nutrition (C). ⋯ Although less well tolerated, immunonutrition is a feasible method of early enteral nutrition in the pediatric intensive care unit. It has a favorable effect on nutritional indices and antioxidant catalysts, but not on outcome hard endpoints. Although it poses a higher metabolic burden to the patient, it shows a trend to improve colonization and infection rates. Appropriate modifications for specific age populations might improve its tolerability and benefits among critically ill children.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of a medium-chain triacylglycerol/long-chain triacylglycerol fat emulsion containing a reduced ratio of phospholipid to triacylglycerol in pediatric surgical patients.
Medium-chain triacylglycerol (MCT) has been shown to provide better nutritional support than long-chain triacylglycerol (LCT). We compared the efficacy of MCT/LCT fat emulsions containing a usual (0.12) or a decreased (0.06) ratio of phospholipid to triacylglycerol (PL:TG) in pediatric patients under surgical stress. ⋯ In pediatric patients under surgical stress, a total parenteral nutrition regimen containing an MCT/LCT fat emulsion with a decreased PL:TG ratio (0.06) is likely to result in partly better lipid and lipoprotein metabolism than an emulsion containing the usual ratio (0.12).
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We determined the variability in enteral feeding practices in mechanically ventilated patients in four adult intensive care units of a tertiary-care, referral hospital. ⋯ The practice of providing enteral feeds to mechanically ventilated patients varies widely, even within one hospital. A protocol enhanced early initiation of enteral feeds and advancement to target feeding rates but did not alter the number or duration of interruptions in enteral feedings. Procedures represented the most common reason for stopping enteral feeds, and gastrointestinal intolerances (vomiting, aspiration, and increased gastric residuals) caused few feeding interruptions. The gastric route was safe and well tolerated for early enteral feeding in most mechanically ventilated patients.
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This study assessed the effect of vitamin B6 status on immune responses in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients and compared the results with those of healthy controls. ⋯ Plasma PLP is a significant indicator of immune responses in human subjects. Further research is warranted to study whether vitamin B6 supplementation in critically ill patients improves their immune responses.