The nutritional impact of a feeding protocol for infants on high flow nasal cannula therapy

A Quality Initiative to Prioritize Enteral Feeding in Bronchiolitis

Introduction

Recent studies have identified enteral feeding as a safe alternative to intravenous fluid hydration for inpatients with bronchiolitis receiving respiratory support. Specifically, it can improve vital signs, shorten time on high-flow nasal cannula, and is associated with reduced length of stay. We aimed to increase the percentage of patients receiving enteral feeding on admission with mild-to-moderate bronchiolitis, including those on high-flow nasal cannula, from 83% to 95% within 6 months.

Methods

A multidisciplinary quality improvement team identified key drivers preventing enteral feeding as lack of standardization, perception of aspiration risk, and lack of familiarity with feeding orders. PDSA cycles focused on developing and implementing a bronchiolitis clinical practice pathway with an embedded guideline and order set as decision support to prioritize enteral feeding. Additionally, educational sessions were provided for trainees and attendings who were impacted by this pathway.

Results

Following interventions, initiation of enteral feeding increased (83%-96%). Additionally, intravenous line placement decreased (37%-12%) with a mirrored increase in nasogastric tube placement (4%-21%). This was associated with a shorter overall length of stay and no increased transfer rate to intensive care.

Conclusions

Using quality improvement methodology to standardize enteral feeding and hydration increased the initiation rate of enteral feeding in patients admitted with bronchiolitis. These changes were seen immediately after the implementation of the clinical pathway and sustained throughout the bronchiolitis season.

Assessing swallowing disorders in adults on high-flow nasal cannula in critical and non-critical care settings. A scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

The high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has become a widely used respiratory support system, which has proven to be effective in different populations. The facilitation of oral communication and feeding have been described as advantages of this support. Nevertheless, swallowing disorders associated with the use of HFNC have been postulated. However, such evidence is scattered in the literature, not systematically searched, and needs to be adequately summarised. This review aimed to explore the literature, to identify and map the evidence, regarding the frequency and methods of assessment of swallowing disorders in adult HFNC users, in both critical and non-critical units.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A scoping review will be conducted. A systematic search in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CENTRAL, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), and other resources will be conducted. Primary studies, in any language or publication status, assessing the incidence of swallowing disorders in adults with HFNC support will be included. Two reviewers will independently select studies and extract data. Disagreements will be resolved by consensus or a third reviewer. The results will be reported narratively, using tables and figures to support them.

DISCUSSION

Positive end-expiratory pressure generated in the airway by HFNC could impair the proper swallowing performance. Knowing the methodological characteristics, the instruments or scales used to assess the presence of dysphagia, and the results of the studies may contribute to considering swallowing assessment in this population on a routine basis, as well as to guide the conduct of new studies that may respond to less researched areas in this topic.

REGISTRATION

Registration number: INPLASY2022110078.

Association of enteral feeds in critically ill bronchiolitis patients supported by high-flow nasal cannula with adverse events and outcomes

To study association of enteral feeds in bronchiolitis patients supported by different levels of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) with adverse events, nutritional goals, and clinical outcomes. Bronchiolitis patients ≤ 24 months of age treated with < 1 L/kg/min, 1-2 L/kg/min and > 2 L/kg/min of HFNC between January 2014 and December 2021 were studied retrospectively at a tertiary care children's hospital. Adverse events (aspiration pneumonia, emesis, and respiratory support escalation), nutritional goals (initiation of enteral feeds, achievement of nutritional goal volume and goal calories, percentage weight change during hospital stay) and clinical outcomes (HFNC duration, oxygen supplementation duration after HFNC, length of hospital stay following HFNC support, total length of hospital stay and follow-up for 1 month after hospital discharge) were compared between fed and non-fed patients on HFNC. Six hundred thirty-six (489 fed and 147 not-fed) bronchiolitis patients on HFNC studied. 260 patients, 317 patients and 59 patients were supported by < 1 L/kg/min, 1-2 L/kg/min and > 2 L/kg/min of HFNC, respectively. Enterally fed patients had significantly less adverse events (OR = 0.14, 95% CI 0.083 - 0.23, p < 0.001), significantly better nutritional goals: earlier initiation of enteral feeds by 65% in time (mean ratio = 0.35, 95% CI 0.28 - 0.43, p < 0.001), earlier achievement of goal volume and goal calorie needs by 14% in time (mean ratio = 0.86, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.96, p = 0.005) and significantly better clinical outcomes: shorter HFNC duration by 29.75 h (95% CI 20.19 -39.31, p < 0.001), shorter oxygen supplementation duration after HFNC by 12.14 h (95% CI 6.70 -17.59, p < 0.001), shorter length of hospital stay after HFNC support by 21.35 h (95% CI 14.71-27.98, p < 0.001) and shorter total length of hospital stay by 51.10 h (95% CI 38.65 -63.55, p < 0.001), as compared to non-fed patients, after adjusting for age, weight, prematurity, comorbidities, admission time, admission bronchiolitis score, admission respiratory rate, and HFNC levels. The number of revisits and readmissions at 7 and 30 days after hospital discharge were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the fed and non-fed groups.    Conclusion: Enteral feeding of bronchiolitis patients supported by different levels of HFNC is associated with less adverse events and better nutrition goals and clinical outcomes. What is Known: •There is general apprehension to feed critically ill bronchiolitis patients supported by high flow nasal cannula. What is New: •Our study reveals that enteral feeding of critically ill bronchiolitis patients supported by different levels of high flow nasal cannula is associated with minimal adverse events, better nutritional goals and improved clinical outcomes as compared to non-fed patients.