Prospective evaluation of a novel enteral feeding guideline based on individual gastric emptying times: an improvement project in a pediatric intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

On a 20-bed, mixed cardiac and general, UK pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), we aimed to determine if a physiologically based enteral feeding guideline for critically ill children, using feed frequency tailored to individual gastric emptying times, resulted in earlier establishment of full feeds (when 100% of fluid allowance (FA) available to be given as intravenous maintenance fluid or feed, defined as free FA [FFA], is given as enteral nutrition [EN]) and an increase in FFA given as EN.

METHODS

Four prospective audits (totaling 331 patients and 19,771 hours) were conducted at 1 year before guideline introduction and 1, 5, and 10 years after. Patient feeding data were collected from admission until day 4 or discharge, including reasons why feed was withheld.

RESULTS

The median time from admission to establishing full feeds decreased from 18 to 10 hours preguideline and postguideline and was sustained over 10 years. After adjustment for 5 confounders, this represented a reduction in the geometric mean time to full feeds of 30% (2009), 29% (2013), and 48% (2019) compared with 2007 (all P < .01). Nil-per-oral (NPO) hours were categorized as due to modifiable and nonmodifiable factors. Preguideline and postguideline NPO hours from modifiable factors decreased from 21 (2007) to 10 (2009) per 100 audit hours, which was sustained across 10 years (all P < .01). Conversely, NPO hours from nonmodifiable factors ranged from 27 to 36 per 100 audit hours throughout the audits, with no consistent trend over time. Similar inconsistency was shown in the proportion of FFA given as EN: 48% (2007), 71% (2009), 51% (2013), and 64% (2019). Continuous nasogastric and hourly bolus feeds decreased over time; they comprised 66% of feeds in 2007 but only 4%-11% in subsequent periods, being replaced with more 2-6 hour bolus, on-demand, or continuous nasojejunal feeds.

CONCLUSION

The guideline was associated with sustained reduction in the time to establishing full feeds and NPO hours due to modifiable factors and more or no less FFA being given as EN.

Perioperative nutritional prehabilitation in malnourished children with congenital heart disease: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

The poor preoperative nutritional state of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) is often exacerbated postoperatively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of perioperative 1- versus 2-wk nutritional prehabilitation programs on growth and surgical outcomes in malnourished children with CHD.

METHODS

Forty malnourished infants scheduled for elective CHD surgery were randomized to receive either 1 or 2 wk of a nutritional prehabilitation program. Pre- and postoperative anthropometric parameters and feeding characteristics, feeding tolerance, duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) and total hospital LOS were documented.

RESULTS

The 2-wk prehabilitation group showed higher weight-for-age z-score and body mass index than the 1-wk group both preoperatively postnutritional, and postoperatively with significantly higher weight gain postoperatively. The 2-wk prehabilitation group had a shorter duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation, ICU LOS, and total hospital LOS.

CONCLUSION

The 2-wk prehabilitation program was associated with better anthropometric measurements, shorter ICU LOS postoperatively, and shorter duration of hospitalization and mechanical ventilation. The preoperative nutritional status of children with CHD had a negative effect on ICU LOS and duration of mechanical ventilation.

Reducing variation in feeding newborns with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE

Enteral feeding is associated with decreased infection rates, decreased mechanical ventilation, decreased hospital length of stay, and improved wound healing. Enteral feeding difficulties are common in congenital heart disease. Our objective was to develop experience-based newborn feeding guidelines for the initiation and advancement of enteral feeding in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective analysis of a quality improvement project.

SETTING

This quality improvement project was performed in a cardiothoracic intensive care unit.

PATIENTS

Newborns admitted to the cardiothoracic intensive care unit for cardiac surgery from January 2011 to May 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.

INTERVENTION

Newborn feeding guidelines for the initiation and advancement of enteral feeding were implemented in January 2012.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Guideline compliance and clinical variables before and after guideline implementation were reviewed.

RESULTS

Compliance with the guidelines increased from 83% in 2012 to 100% in the first two quarters of 2015. Preguidelines (January 2011-December 2011): 45 newborns underwent cardiac surgery; 8 deaths prior to discharge; 1 patient discharged from NICU, therefore, N = 36. Postguidelines (January 2012-May 2015): 131 newborns with 12 deaths, 12 admitted from home, 8 in the NICU, 3 on the floor preop, and 3 back transferred, therefore, N = 93. No difference in feeding preop (post 75% vs pre 69%; P = .5) or full po feeds at discharge (post 78% vs pre 89%; P = .2). Mesenteric ischemia was not statistically different postguidelines (post 6% vs pre 14%; P = .14). Length of hospital stay decreased postguidelines (post 27 + 17 d vs pre 34 + 42 d; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of experience-based newborn feeding guidelines for initiation and advancement of enteral feeding in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit was successful in reducing practice variation supported by increasing guideline compliance. Percentage of patient's full oral feeding at discharge did not change. Length of hospital stay was reduced although cannot be fully attributed to feeding guideline implementation.

Feeding and nutritional challenges in infants with single ventricle physiology

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Adequate enteral nutrition and growth are vital to recovery and survival of infants following palliation for univentricular hearts. This group of patients experiences frequent feeding complications that may impede adequate delivery of enteral nutrition. This review presents the most recent data related to feeding practices, growth patterns and outcomes. It also explores management strategies for delivering enteral nutrition safely and effectively to this high-risk group of infants.

RECENT FINDINGS

Infants following palliation for single ventricle physiology have persistent growth failure until at least 14 months of life. Greater daily caloric intake attenuates this growth failure. Persistent growth failure is associated with increased mortality following cardiac surgery. Management of enteral nutrition varies widely both pre and postoperatively. Data suggest that standardizing feeding practices improves delivery of enteral nutrition and decreases feeding complications. Evidence-based international feeding guidelines do not exist.

SUMMARY

Delivery of adequate nutrition in infants with single ventricle physiology is essential to improve outcomes but is often difficult to achieve. Evidence-based feeding guideline development is crucial to improve outcomes in this group of patients.

Enteral feeding algorithm for infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome poststage I palliation

BACKGROUND

Infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) experience a high incidence of growth failure in the postoperative period following stage I palliation. Because of an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in this population, clinicians may be reluctant to initiate early enteral feedings. Published guidelines for initiating and advancing enteral feedings in this population are limited.

OBJECTIVE

To test the safety and efficacy of an enteral feeding algorithm in infants with HLHS following stage I palliation.

DESIGN

Single-center, prospective case series with historical comparisons.

SETTING

Pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit in tertiary care children's hospital.

PATIENTS

The study group consisted of consecutive patients > or =35 wks gestational age and weight > or =2 kg admitted to our cardiac intensive care unit over an 18-month period following stage I palliation of HLHS (n = 36). Excluded were nonsurvivors, patients supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or those with a history of NEC or fetal intervention. These data were compared with a similar cohort of patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit over an 18-month period before the implementation of the feeding algorithm (n = 27).

INTERVENTION

A feeding algorithm was implemented in the study group in the postoperative period for initiation and advancement of enteral nutrition.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The median duration of total parenteral nutrition was significantly higher in the control group (116 vs. 51 hrs; p = 0.03) compared with the study group. The median time to achieve recommended daily allowance of calories defined as 108 kcal/kg per day was significantly reduced in the study group (9 vs. 13 days; p = 0.01). Despite the rapid advancement of enteral feedings on the algorithm, there was no incidence of NEC in the study group compared with 11% in the control group.

CONCLUSION

The use of an enteral feeding algorithm is a safe and effective means of initiating and advancing enteral nutrition in infants with HLHS following stage I palliation.

[Measurement of residual gastric volume: in search of better evidence]

INTRODUCTION

Measurement of residual gastric volume is a frequent practice in chronic patients, but there is lack of consensus on the convenience of reintroducing or discarding aspirated gastric content (AGC).

OBJECTIVE

Determine the grade of scientific evidence on the efficacy of two interventions -reintroduction/rejection- of AGC in chronic patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Systematic review of the evidence available on the convenience of reintroducing or discarding ACG.

PROCEDURE

a) establishment of inclusion/exclusion criteria; b) determination of the search strategy (keywords and itineraries); c) dumping of databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, CUIDEN, IME, SCIELO and COCHRANE. Search for indirect method and manual dumping of indexes; d) independent and contrasted critical reading, using the CASPe template; and e) contrast of critical analysis results.

RESULTS

Search itineraries generate more than 800 references that once purged make it possible to select 54. After reading them, only 4 really focused on the questions related with the reintroduction/rejection of AGC: 2 revisions, 1 observational study and a random clinical trial with a small sample. Meta-analysis techniques could not be used due to the heterogeneity of these studies. Thus, the results of the study were analyzed separately. Using this procedure, a final result was obtained that showed a low grade of scientific evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

There is limited scientific evidence on the convenience, safety and benefits of both interventions. It is difficult to establish a care protocol, so that we suggest performing an experimental study to establish the indications and contraindications of both interventions.

Nutritional intake in the critically ill: Improving practice through research

Enteral feeding is the preferred method of nutritional support in the critically ill; however, evidence suggests that many critically ill patients do not meet their nutritional goals. The implementation of enteral feeding protocols has improved nutritional delivery, although protocols can be widely variable. Similarly, enteral feeding related nursing practice is also inconsistent within and between intensive care units (ICUs). These variations in enteral feeding practice can be linked to the shortage of reliable and valid research into the many issues associated with the effective delivery of enteral nutrition. In the absence of a strong research tradition and practice, rituals are embraced and rarely challenged, further contributing to the wide variations in enteral feeding practice. Of particular importance are practice issues related to the commencement of enteral feeding and the assessment of feeding tolerance. This article seeks to review the literature related to commencing enteral feeding, with particular reference to the suitability of enteral nutrition, methods of enteral feeding and adjustment of enteral feeding rates. Issues relating to feeding intolerance, including the assessment of gastric residual volume and the development of diarrhoea, will also be explored.