title: Diarrhoea during enteral feeding in the critically ill: a comparison of feeds with and without fibre.
abstract: This randomised double-blind study examined the frequency of diarrhoea in intensive care unit patients given a fibre-containing feed, Enrich, and a fibre-free feed, Ensure. A daily 'diarrhoea score' was calculated from the frequency, volume and consistency of the stools. A score greater than 12 indicated diarrhoea, and greater than 50 severe diarrhoea. Ninety one patients met the criteria for participation: Enrich 45, Ensure 46. The groups were similar in age, sex ratio, feed volume, antibiotic usage, upper gastro-intestinal bleeding prophylaxis and plasma albumin concentrations. Diarrhoea occurred in 16 patients given Enrich and 13 given Ensure, severe diarrhoea affecting 5 and 9 respectively (NS). Forty seven of 343 (14%) Enrich feeding days and 51 of 342 (15%) Ensure feeding days were complicated by diarrhoea--severe diarrhoea: 8 and 12 feeding days (NS). We conclude soy polysaccharide (21 g/L) did not reduce diarrhoea in intensive care unit patients given enteral feeds.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Dobb
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Towler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic