[The use of early enteral feeding post orthotopic liver transplantation in adults].
BACKGROUND
Orthotopic liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver disease. Malnutrition is common in this population. Early enteral nutrition is not routine in the transplant groups.


OBJECTIVE
To report our experience with the use of early enteral nutrition in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation and also evaluate its safety.


METHODS
We studied 41 adults submitted to orthotopic liver transplantation. Pre- orthotopic liver transplantation nutritional assessment was accomplished by the subjective global assessment and grip strength. Enteral nutrition was begun in 12 hours. Oral feeding was initiate gradually as soon as possible.


RESULTS
We studied 35 individuals, with an average of age of 45.5 years (8.93). The prevalence of malnutrition in orthotopic liver transplantation was of 77.1% determined by subjective global assessment, and 100% by grip strength. Early enteral nutrition was begun in all of the individuals in up to 12 hours, mode 10.9 hours, and maintained exclusively by medium period of 2.6 days (2.2). Oral feeding was obtained in the medium period of 9.5 days (9.7). Early enteral nutrition provided total caloric intake in 97% of the cases. Intolerance to the enteral feeding occurred in five individuals (14.2%), and in four of them it was resumed successfully after 12 hours. The prevalence of respiratory infection was of 28.6%. In only two patients (5.7%) there was aspirative bronchopneumonia.


CONCLUSIONS
Early enteral nutrition is an effective method in the provision of calories and safe in application to patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.
Alvares-da-Silva
Mário Reis
MR
Grupo de Transplante Hepático, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, RS.
Gottschall
Catarina Bertaso Andreatta
CB
Waechter
Fábio Luis
FL
Hadlich
Everton
E
Sampaio
José Arthur
JA
Francesconi
Carlos Fernando M
CF
D000328:Adult; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome