[Transpyloric enteral nutrition in critically-ill children (I): technic and indications].
OBJECTIVE
To study the utility and efficacy of transpyloric enteral nutrition (TEN) in critically-ill children by analyzing the factors that determine enteral tolerance.


METHODS
We performed a prospective, observational study between 1994 and 2002 of all critically-ill children admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit who received TEN. The indications for enteral nutrition, type of nutrition and its duration were studied.


RESULTS
A total of 286 patients (8.4 % of patients admitted to the PICU in the study period), aged between 3 days and 17 years received TEN. Fifty-five children (19.2 %) were aged less than 1 month and 165 (27.7 %) were aged less than 6 months. Seventy percent received TEN exclusively. The most frequent indication for TEN was mechanical ventilation in 255 children (89.2 %). One hundred seventy-six patients (61.5 %) received TEN in the postoperative period after cardiac surgery. The mean duration of TEN was 15.4 25 days, the maximum volume of nutrition was 118.7 41 ml/kg/day, and the maximum caloric intake was 88.6 26.7 kcal/kg/day. During TEN, 227 patients received sedation (79.3 %), and 124 were administered muscle relaxants (43.3 %), with no increase in complications.


CONCLUSIONS
TEN is a useful method of nutrition in critically-ill children.
Sánchez Sánchez
C
C
Sección de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Maranon. Madrid. Spain.
López-Herce Cid
J
J
Carrillo Alvarez
A
A
Bustinza Arriortúa
A
A
Sancho Pérez
L
L
Vigil Escribano
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011708:Pylorus