Enteral approaches in malabsorption

Nutritional management of high-output ileostomies in paediatric patients is vital and more evidence-based guidelines are needed

AIM

Paediatric patients with high-output ileostomies (HOI) face an elevated risk of complications. This study aimed to comprehensively review the existing literature and offer nutritional management recommendations for paediatric patients with an HOI.

METHODS

PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant English or French language papers up to 31 June 2022. The emphasis was placed on studies involving paediatric ileostomy patients, but insights were obtained from adult literature and other intestinal failure pathologies when these were lacking.

RESULTS

We identified 16 papers that addressed nutritional issues in paediatric ileostomy patients. Currently, no evidence supports a safe paediatric HOI threshold exceeding 20 mL/kg/day on two consecutive days. Paediatric HOI patients were at risk of dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, micronutrient deficiencies and growth failure. The primary dietary choice for neonates is bolus feeding with breastmilk. In older children, an enteral fluid restriction should be installed favouring isotonic or slightly hypotonic glucose-electrolyte solutions. A diet that is high in calories, complex carbohydrates and proteins, low in insoluble fibre and simple carbohydrates, and moderate in fat is recommended.

CONCLUSION

Adequate nutritional management is crucial to prevent complications in children with an HOI. Further research is needed to establish more evidence-based guidelines.

Metabolic and Nutritional Issues after Lower Digestive Tract Surgery: The Important Role of the Dietitian in a Multidisciplinary Setting

Many patients undergo small bowel and colon surgery for reasons related to malignancy, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mesenteric ischemia, and other benign conditions, including post-operative adhesions, hernias, trauma, volvulus, or diverticula. Some patients arrive in the operating theatre severely malnourished due to an underlying disease, while others develop complications (e.g., anastomotic leaks, abscesses, or strictures) that induce a systemic inflammatory response that can increase their energy and protein requirements. Finally, anatomical and functional changes resulting from surgery can affect either nutritional status due to malabsorption or nutritional support (NS) pathways. The dietitian providing NS to these patients needs to understand the pathophysiology underlying these sequelae and collaborate with other professionals, including surgeons, internists, nurses, and pharmacists. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the nutritional and metabolic consequences of different types of lower gastrointestinal surgery and the role of the dietitian in providing comprehensive patient care. This article reviews the effects of small bowel resection on macronutrient and micronutrient absorption, the effects of colectomies (e.g., ileocolectomy, low anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, and proctocolectomy) that require special dietary considerations, nutritional considerations specific to ostomized patients, and clinical practice guidelines for caregivers of patients who have undergone a surgery for local and systemic complications of IBD. Finally, we highlight the valuable contribution of the dietitian in the challenging management of short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure.

Impact of Dietary Protein on the Management of Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome

Essential amino acids (AAs) play a key role in stimulating intestinal adaptation after massive small gut resection. The nutritional effect of dietary amino acids during intestinal regrowth has received considerable attention in recent years. This review explores the significance of dietary amino acids in the nutritional management of infants and children with intestinal failure and short bowel syndrome (SBS) as reported in the medical literature over the last three decades. A literature search was conducted using electronic databases. Breast milk emerged as the first-line enteral regimen recommended for infants with SBS. Hydrolyzed formulas (HFs) or amino acid formulas (AAFs) are recommended when breast milk is not available or if the infant cannot tolerate whole protein milk. The superiority of AAFs over HFs has never been demonstrated. Although glutamine (GLN) is the main fuel for enterocytes, GLN supplementation in infants with SBS showed no difference in the child's dependence upon parenteral nutrition (PN). Circulating citrulline is considered a major determinant of survival and nutritional prognosis of SBS patients. Early enteral nutrition and dietary supplementation of AAs following bowel resection in children are essential for the development of intestinal adaptation, thereby eliminating the need for PN.

Results of an International Survey on Feeding Management in Infants With Short Bowel Syndrome-Associated Intestinal Failure

OBJECTIVES

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a complex and rare condition (incidence 1200/100,000 live births) that requires a multidisciplinary team approach to management. In January 2019, the first European Reference Network on Rare and Inherited Congenital Anomalies (ERNICA) Intestinal Failure (IF) workshop was held. Several questions about the strategies used in managing IF associated with SBS were devised. The aim of our study was to collect data on the enteral feeding strategies adopted by the ERNICA centres.

METHODS

A questionnaire (36 questions) about strategies used to introduce enteral nutrition post-operatively and start complementary food/solids in infants with SBS associated IF was developed and sent to 24 centres in 15 countries that participated in the ERNICA-IF workshop. The answers were collated and compared with the literature.

RESULTS

There was a 100% response rate. In infants, enteral nutrition was introduced as soon as possible, ideally within 24-48 hours post-small intestinal surgical resection. In 10 of 24 centres, bolus feeding was used, in nine continuous, and in five a combination of both. Twenty-three centres used mothers' own milk as the first choice of feed with extensively hydrolysed feed, amino acid-based feed, donor human milk or standard preterm/term formula as the second choice. Although 22 centres introduced complementary/solid food by 6 months of age, food choice varied greatly between centres and appeared to be culturally based.

CONCLUSIONS

There is diversity in post-surgical enteral feeding strategies among centres in Europe. Further multi-centre studies could help to increase evidence-based medicine and management on this topic.

ASPEN definitions in pediatric intestinal failure

Pediatric intestinal failure (PIF) is a relatively rare disease entity which requires focused interdisciplinary care and specialized nutrition management. There has long been a lack of consensus in the definition of key terms related to PIF due to its rarity and plethora of small studies rather than large trials. As such, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Pediatric Intestinal Failure Section, composed of clinicians from a variety of disciplines caring for children with intestinal failure, is uniquely poised to provide insight into this definition void. This document is the product of an effort by the Section to create evidence-based consensus definitions, with the goal of allowing for appropriate comparisons between clinical studies and measurement of longterm patient outcomes. This manuscript was approved by the ASPEN Board of Directors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Vitamin D status in children with intestinal failure who have achieved enteral autonomy

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in children with intestinal failure (IF) who receive parenteral nutrition (PN), but data on vitamin D status after achieving enteral autonomy (EA) are limited. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in this population while exploring clinical variables that may be associated with its development.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed on 29 children with IF who had achieved EA. Deficiency was defined as a mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D <30 ng/ml.

DATA RESULTS

Sixty-six percent of children had at least one deficient level during the study period, with 38% being deficient based on the mean vitamin D levels. Eighty-four percent had radiologic evidence of osteopenia. Compared with the sufficient group (n=18), the deficient group (n=11) received higher daily mean vitamin D doses (2246 vs 920 IU; P=.02), had shorter remnant small-bowel length (53.8 vs 82.1 cm; P=.03), and were PN dependent for a longer duration (1.3 vs 0.58 years; P=.01). Univariate analyses revealed longer remnant gut length (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03; P=.04) and shorter duration of PN (OR = 0.26; P=.04) to be significantly associated with sufficient vitamin D status.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin D deficiency and osteopenia are highly prevalent in pediatric patients with a history of IF who have achieved EA, despite enteral supplementation with higher than standard doses. Shorter remnant small-bowel length and longer duration of PN were associated with vitamin D deficiency. These findings emphasize the importance of prolonged surveillance and highlight the need for alternate dosing regimens.

Enteral Nutrition in Pediatric Short-Bowel Syndrome

Pediatric intestinal failure (IF) is the critical reduction of intestinal mass or function below the amount necessary for normal growth in children. Short-bowel syndrome (SBS) is the most common cause of IF in infants and children and is caused by intestinal resection. Enteral autonomy and freedom from parenteral nutrition is the mainstay of nutrition management in SBS. The goal is to achieve intestinal adaptation while maintaining proper growth and development. Treatment is variable, and there remains a paucity of evidence to draw well-informed conclusions for the care of individuals in this complex population. Physiological principles of enteral nutrition and practical recommendations for advancing the diet of patients with pediatric SBS are presented. Emerging trends in nutrition management, such as the growing interest in blending diets and the impact on SBS, are reviewed. Finally, the influence of the microbiome on enteral tolerance and small bowel bacterial overgrowth are considered.

Weaning from Parenteral Nutrition

The ultimate goal of treatment of short bowel syndrome/intestinal failure patients is to achieve enteral autonomy by eliminating parenteral nutrition (PN)/intravenous fluids (IV). After optimization of diet, oral hydration and anti-diarrheal medications, attempt should be made to eliminate PN/IV. Weaning from PN/IV should be individualized for each patient. Although teduglutide is the preferred agent for PN/IV volume reduction or successful weaning, optimal patient selection and long-term safety need further evaluation. Following PN/IV elimination, patients need long-term monitoring for nutritional deficiencies. This article will address clinical considerations before, during, and after PN/IV weaning to facilitate safe and successful PN/IV weaning process.

Composite Scaffolds Based on Intestinal Extracellular Matrices and Oxidized Polyvinyl Alcohol: A Preliminary Study for a New Regenerative Approach in Short Bowel Syndrome

Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome is a rare malabsorption disease occurring because of massive surgical resections of the small intestine. To date, the issues related to current strategies including intestinal transplantation prompted the attention towards tissue engineering (TE). This work aimed to develop and compare two composite scaffolds for intestinal TE consisting of a novel hydrogel, that is, oxidized polyvinyl alcohol (OxPVA), cross-linked with decellularized intestinal wall as a whole (wW/OxPVA) or homogenized (hW/OxPVA). A characterization of the supports was performed by histology and Scanning Electron Microscopy and their interaction with adipose mesenchymal stem cells occurred by MTT assay. Finally, the scaffolds were implanted in the omentum of Sprague Dawley rats for 4 weeks prior to being processed by histology and immunohistochemistry (CD3; F4/80; Ki-67; desmin; α-SMA; MNF116). In vitro studies proved the effectiveness of the decellularization, highlighting the features of the matrices; moreover, both supports promoted cell adhesion/proliferation even if the wW/OxPVA ones were more effective (p < 0.01). Analysis of explants showed a continuous and relatively organized tissue wall around the supports with a connective appearance, such as myofibroblastic features, smooth muscle, and epithelial cells. Both scaffolds, albeit with some difference, were promising; nevertheless, further analysis will be necessary.

Enteral Nutrition in Pediatric Patients

Pediatric patients require specialized attention and have diverse demands for proper growth and development, and thus need a different approach and interest in nutritional assessment and supply. Enteral nutrition is the most basic and important method of nutritional intervention, and its indications should be identified. Also, the sites, modes, types, and timing of nutritional intervention according to the patient's condition should be determined. In addition, various complications associated with enteral nutrition supply should be identified, and prevention and treatment are required. This approach to enteral nutrition and proper administration can help in the proper growth and recovery of pediatric patients with nutritional imbalances or nutritional needs.