Nutrition
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Influence of arginine, omega-3 fatty acids and nucleotide-supplemented enteral support on systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ failure in patients after severe trauma.
This study investigated the influence of an enteral diet supplemented with arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, and nucleotides (Impact, Sandoz Nutrition, Berne, Switzerland) on the incidence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ failure (MOF) in patients after severe trauma. Thirty-two patients with an injury-severity score > 20 were included in this prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Primary endpoints were the incidence of SIRS and MOF. ⋯ HLA-DR expression on monocytes showed significantly higher fluorescence activity on d 7. No significant difference was found for T-lymphocyte CD4/CD8 ratio, interleukin-2 receptor expression, infection rate, mortality (2/16 vs. 4/13), and hospital stay. The results of the study provide further support for beneficial effects of arginine, omega-3-fatty acids and nucleotide-supplemented enteral diet in critically ill patients.
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Central venous access for the purpose of supplying parenteral nutrition to the pediatric age group requires a careful definition of the patient's caloric need, estimated duration of therapy, and an assessment of available sites. Peripheral vein parenteral nutrition is limited by caloric density of the nutrient fluids, while peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) offers a new technology for accessing central veins while obviating the risk of central vein access. ⋯ The risks of such access catheters include mechanical risks of placement, venous thrombosis of the access sites, and most importantly catheter related infections, either at the exit site, the subcutaneous tunnel or pouch, or even generalized sepsis. With a full knowledge of the spectrum of access techniques, access materials, and risks, safe total parenteral nutrition can be safely delivered to the children in need.
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Comparative Study
A 10-year survey of nutritional support in a surgical ICU: 1986-1995.
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has long been considered the optimal nutrition technique in critically ill patients, but recently the use of enteral nutrition (EN) has increased. This study describes the evolution of the different nutritional support techniques in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital, through (1) a global survey over 10 y assessing the evolution of the use of EN and TPN, and (2) a prospective study performed over 6 mo. Severity of illness and diagnostic categories were stable (n = 11,539 patients). ⋯ The frequency of nutritional support provided in general has increased to 40% of ICU treatment days. TPN has been largely overtaken by EN, with the risk of insufficient energy delivery, related to the difficulties of EN in the critically ill. These results reinforce the importance of continuous quality control by daily assessment of nutrient supply.