Fecal energy losses in enterally fed intensive care patients: an explorative study using bomb calorimetry.
OBJECTIVE
Early enteral nutrition and tailored supply of nutrients have become standard in most of the intensive care units (ICU). So far little attention has been given to losses of energy in the stools. The purpose of this explorative study was to evaluate the energy losses of patients with loose stools, necessitating the use of a feces-collector device in a tertiary academic ICU.


METHODS
In a group of 13 fully enterally fed and mechanically ventilated patients with loose stools, the daily energy loss in feces was determined, using bomb calorimetry. Malabsorption was defined as an absorption capacity of 85% or less. Energy expenditure was determined with indirect calorimetry.


RESULTS
Six out of 13 (46%) patients fulfilled the criterion of malabsorption. The mean total energetic absorption capacity was 84.6+/-13.3%. The mean capacity of absorption of fat was 89.7+/-16.3%. The caloric value of energy loss had a mean of 301+/-259 kcal/day. Fecal fat loss proved not to be a good indicator of total fecal energy loss. A total of 4/13 patients (31%) had a net negative energy balance of over 500 kcal/day. A daily feces production of 250 g or more was a good predictor of malabsorption. Energy loss could accurately be predicted by using a factor 4.87 for the combined energetic value of protein and carbohydrates, if dry weight and fecal fat content are known.


CONCLUSIONS
In this clinical study on ICU patients with loose stools, malabsorption proved to be a frequently occurring and so far unrecognized problem, contributing strongly to negative energy balances in 1/3 of the patients.
Strack van Schijndel
R J M
RJ
Department of Intensive Care, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. rob.strack@vumc.nl
Wierdsma
N J
NJ
van Heijningen
E M B
EM
Weijs
P J M
PJ
de Groot
S D W
SD
Girbes
A R J
AR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002151:Calorimetry; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
D004041:Dietary Fats