title: [Transpyloric enteral nutrition in critically-ill children (II): complications].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study tolerance to transpyloric enteral nutrition (TEN) and the incidence of secondary complications in critically-ill children.
  
  
  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. Tolerance and complications were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 286 patients aged between 3 days and 17 years who received TEN, gastrointestinal complications occurred in 13.6 %, abdominal distention and/or excessive gastric residue in 8 % and diarrhea in 6.3 %. Diarrhea was associated with shock (p 0.01), abdominal distension and/ or excessive gastric residue (p 0.008), hypophosphatemia (p 0.001), and duration of TEN (p < 0.001). TEN was discontinued in 2.1 % of the patients because of gastrointestinal complications. Thirty-two patients (11.2 %) died during TEN. No relationship was found between the characteristics of nutrition and complications and mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TEN is a well tolerated method of nutrition in critically-ill children that produces few complications.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Maranon. Madrid. Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez Sánchez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Herce Cid
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carrillo Alvarez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bustinza Arriortúa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sancho Pérez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vigil Escribano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011708:Pylorus