title: Caloric requirements in patients with necrotizing fasciitis.
abstract: Patients with necrotizing fasciitis (NF) and other soft tissue infections are often treated in burn centers due to the extent of wound care and surgical intervention needed. Sepsis and surgery increase metabolic needs and may limit oral intake and necessitate enteral (TEN) or parenteral (TPN) nutrition. We reviewed the records of patients admitted with necrotizing fasciitis or surgical soft tissue infections from January 1993 to June 1998 who had indirect calorimetry (IC) measurements performed. Records were also reviewed for surgical/medical management and nutritional intervention. Twenty-six patients were admitted with 17 of these having IC measurements (133 total IC measurements). The IC group had more surgeries (mean 4.9 versus 2.7) and 82% required mechanical ventilation (mean 17.9 days). Energy expenditure showed a moderate but significant increase in energy needs (mean 23.8 kcal/kg/day, 124% BEE) with large variations (10.7-42.4 kcal/kg/day, 60%-199% BEE) in individual energy requirements. Caloric intake averaged 73% of needs based on IC (range 53%-104%). Nearly all patients (94%) required TEN (82%) and/or TPN (41%) nutrition for a mean of 24 days (range 1-68 days). NF presents a broad range of metabolic and surgical needs. Our data indicates patients with NF have increased energy requirements and suggests provision of calories at 124% basal or 25 kcal/kg actual wt/d; but due to the large individual variation, routine assessment using IC is recommended. Clinicians need to recognize the likely need for nutritional support and possibly lengthy clinical course for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Intermountain Burn Center, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. caran.graves@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Caran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saffle
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stauffer
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edelman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect / Q000379:methods; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000379:methods; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000503:physiopathology