Table 3

Nutritional outcomes

Before

(n = 20)

After

(n = 30)

P-value

Adequacy of calories from total nutrition †‡

0.23

Mean ± SD

71.7% ± 32.5%

80.3% ± 27.0%

Adequacy of protein from total nutrition †‡

0.13

Mean ± SD

61.2% ± 29.3%

73.6% ± 28.6%

Adequacy of calories from EN ‡

0.23

Mean ± SD

58.8% ± 31.4%

70.2% ± 26.3%

Adequacy of protein from EN ‡

0.08

Mean ± SD

61.2% ± 29.3%

76.1% ± 25.5%

Type of nutrition

0.16

EN only

18 (90.0%)

29 (96.7%)

PN only

0

1 (3.3%)

EN + PN

2 (10.0%)

0

Initiation of EN

0.96

Prior to ICU admission

1 (5.0%)

2 (7.1%)

0 to 24

15 (75.0%)

21 (75.0%)

>24 to 48

4 (20.0%)

3 (10.7%)

>48 to 72

0

1 (3.6%)

>72

0

1 (3.6%)

Time of initiation of EN (hours)

0.72

Mean ± SD

16.0 ± 13.8

17.7 ± 16.9

Use of motility agents (patient-day level)

0.70

n/N (%)

78/192 (40.6%)

104/243 (42.8%)

Use of motility agents (patient level)

0.11

n/N (%)

11/20 (55.0%)

24/30 (80%)

Started motility agents on the first ICU day¶

0.03

n/N (%)

0

7/30 (23.3%)

Use of supplemental protein

0.08

n/N (%)

7/20 (35.0%)

19/30 (63.3%)

Started supplemental protein on the first ICU day£

0.007

n/N (%)

0

9/30 (30.0%)

Morning blood glucose (mmol/l)

1.0

mean ± SD

8.0 ± 0.9

8.1 ± 1.0

%Patient-days with blood glucose>10 mmol/l

0.60

mean ± SD

16.4% ± 10.1%

16.2% ± 12.8%

† includes propofol, EN, and PN when there is a contraindication for EN

‡ includes the first seven ICU days only

¶ The average duration of use of motility agents is 5.9 days in the after group.

£ The average duration of use of supplemental protein is four days in the after group.

SD, standard deviation; EN, enteral nutrition; PN, parenteral nutrition; ICU, intensive care unit

Heyland et al. Critical Care 2010 14:R78   doi:10.1186/cc8991