Implementation of a nutrition support protocol increases the proportion of mechanically ventilated patients reaching enteral nutrition targets in the adult intensive care unit.
BACKGROUND
Despite the evidence that enteral feeding reduces morbidity in critically ill patients and is preferred to parenteral nutrition, the delivery of enteral nutrition (EN) is often inadequate. The purpose of this study was to determine whether implementation of an evidence-based nutrition support (NS) protocol could improve EN delivery.


METHODS
An NS protocol incorporating available scientific evidence; data from a retrospective survey of 30 intensive care unit (ICU) patients; and input from dietitians, intensive care physicians, surgeons, nurses, and pharmacists was developed. The impact of this protocol was evaluated prospectively in 123 consecutive adult patients admitted to a multisystem ICU who were eligible for EN.


RESULTS
The percentage of patients who received at least 80% of their estimated energy requirements during their ICU stay increased from 20% before implementation of the NS protocol to 60% after implementation (p < .001). After adjusting for confounders, those in the postimplementation group received significantly more kcal/kg/d than the preimplementation group (3.71 kcal/kg/d; 95% confidence interval, 1.64 to 5.78; p = .001). Parenteral nutrition use [corrected] was reduced in the postimplementation group (1.6 vs 13%, p = .02). There was no difference in time to initiation of enteral nutrition between groups (1.76 days preprotocol vs 1.44 days postprotocol implementation, p = .9).


CONCLUSIONS
The development and use of an evidence-based NS protocol improved the proportion of enterally fed ICU patients meeting their calculated nutrition requirements.
Mackenzie
Shannon L
SL
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Calgary Health Region and University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403-29 St NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 2T9, Canada. shannon.mackenzie@calgaryhealthregion.ca
Zygun
David A
DA
Whitmore
Bev L
BL
Doig
Christopher J
CJ
Hameed
Syed Morad
SM
D015331:Cohort Studies; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome