Nutritional support and compliance with nutritional goals in the Pediatric ICU of Hospital Metropolitano

Abstract

Aims & Objectives: To describe the nutritional support (NS) implemented in our PICU and to evaluate our capacity to achieve the recommended nutritional goals (NG). Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively recollected data from 09/01/2018-12/31/2019 of all patients on NS. Results: During the study period 124 patients were admitted and 31% needed NS, mean age 40 months, males 63%, medical diagnosis 63%, surgical diagnosis 22%, length of stay 3 days, mortality 4,8%. Enteral nutrition (EN) was implemented in 71,8%, parenteral nutrition (PN) in 15,4%, and mixed EN/PN in 12,8%. EN was started ≤ 48 hours in 56,4%. In the comparison between intake and recommended NG, energy intake achieved 75% of NG (Schofield) at day 4 and ≥ 100% at day 8. In malnourished patients 75% of NG was achieved at day 8. With EN, 75% of NG were achieved at day 4 and ≥ 100% at day 5. Minimum protein goal was achieved at day 5, in malnourished patients, at day 4. Protein goal was achieved with EN at day 7 and with PN at day 3. Average energy administered was 42,6 kcal/kg/day and 18.5% of the patients reached 57 kcal/kg/day. Average protein administered was 1,43 g/kg/day and 42% reach a mean of 1,5 g/kg/day. Conclusions: Minimum recommended energy and protein goals of 57 kcal/kg/d and 1,5 g/kg/d (to achieve anabolism and positive nitrogen balance) were not accomplished in our patients during the first week after admission.