title: Occurrence of gastrointestinal side effects associated with early use of commercial diets in ITU patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyse the occurrence of gastrointestinal side effects in enterally fed ITU patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the records of 195 ITU patients fed enterally, over at least five days, with commercial mixtures administered as 20-h infusions. Gastric retention, the number of defecations, and incidents requiring discontinuation of enteral feeding, were noted during the first 3 days of nutrition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Enteral nutrition was usually started during the first week of treatment (median 4, range: 1-33). In 118 patients receiving parenteral nutrition, the median day of implementing enteral feeding was day 5; some received enteral mixtures much earlier (day 2). The mean infusion rates of enteral mixtures were: 33 mL h-1 on day 1, 58 mL h-1 on day 2, and 68 mL h-1 on day 3. Gastric retention was observed in 49 (25.1%) patients during the first day, in 37 (19.0%) on day 2, and in 25 (12.8%) on day 3. Discontinuation of enteral nutrition was necessary in 6 patients due to: surgery (1), high gastric retention (4), gastrointestinal bleeding (1). A statistically significant correlation was found between the occurrence of gastric retention, infusion rates and CRP, and between the number of defecations and infusion rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enteral feeding with commercial diets is well tolerated when implemented gradually. Intolerance and the need for the discontinuation of enteral feeding were usually associated with a worsening of the patient's general condition and progression of the underlying disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Bydgoszcz.
authors.forename: Marlena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakubczyk
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kusza
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Różowicz
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rusin
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spychalska
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kłęk
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szkulmowski
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dąbrowiecki
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baranowski
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paciorek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004032:Diet; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein