The effect of nutritional protocols on mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care unit: A randomised controlled study Singh Shipra, Ambasta Suruchi* Assistant professor, Dept. of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India *Corresponding Author: Email: suruchi0904@gmail.com
Online published on 3 January, 2019. Abstract Introduction Critically ill patients are prone to develop malnutrition which is a major contributory factor to the already existing burden of morbidity and mortality. Early nutrition support is an effective therapy to prevent malnutrition when patients are unable to take oral nutrition. Aim To determine the effectiveness of a nutrition support protocol versus non-protocol management on initiating nutrition support in ICU patients. Materials and Methods This randomized controlled study was conducted on fifty critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation with twenty five patients in each group. Nutrition protocols were followed in Group I patients and group II comprised of nonprotocolised patients. Results Hospital stay for group I patients was 22.7 days while group II patients stayed for 31.9 days (p-value <0.001). Significant reduction of 8 days in ICU stay was noted in group I patients as compared to group II (p-value <0.001). The duration of mechanical ventilation was reduced by 7 days in group I patients (p<0.001). Mortality rate was 48% in group II as compared to 28% in group I. Nutrition could be initiated 16 hours earlier in group I patients. Conclusion Patients in whom nutrition support protocols were followed received enteral nutrition earlier, had early weaning from ventilator, spent less time in ICU as well as hospital and had lesser complications with low mortality. Top Keywords Enteral nutrition, Nutrition protocol, Malnutrition, Mechanical ventilation, ICU. Top |