title: Gastrointestinal complications and protein-calorie adequacy in intensive care unit enteral nutrition patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal complications and protein-calorie adequacy in critical patients using enteral nutrition therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study in the intensive care unit of the Hospital das Clinicas of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco involving analysis of nutritional records evaluating the most frequent gastrointestinal complications during the patients' hospitalization and protein-calorie supply requirements. It was considered offered, the volume and formula effectively received by the patient on the last hospitalization day. The SPSS version 13 software was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample consisted of 77 patients aged in average 54.7 ± 18.1 years who were predominantly female (54.5%). The diet offered was appropriate and all patients had some type of gastrointestinal complications, being high gastric residuals the most prevalent (39%), followed by constipation (36.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the high prevalence of gastrointestinal complications, no mismatches were observed in protein-calorie intake. Multidisciplinary approaches to these complications should be standardized in order to provide their early resolution.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Residência em Nutrição Clínica, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Suzana Meira de
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Goretti Pessoa de Araújo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Burgos
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eduíla Maria Couto
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Programa de Residência em Nutrição Clínica, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Leila Virgínia da Silva
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marina de Moraes Vasconcelos
authors.initials: Mde M
authors.lastname: Petribú
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Flávia Myrna Tenório de Sousa
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Bomfim