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A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
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A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings

Published on: November 9, 2016

Enteral nutrition and cardiovascular medications in the pediatric intensive care unit

Wendalyn King1, Toni Petrillo, Robert Pettignano

  • 1Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. wendy_king@oz.ped.emory.edu

JPEN. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
|September 29, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Critically ill pediatric patients on cardiovascular medications generally tolerate enteral nutrition well. Most feeding interruptions were not due to gastrointestinal issues, suggesting enteral nutrition is often safe for these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Clinical nutrition
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Enteral nutrition (EN) offers benefits for critically ill patients.
  • Concerns exist regarding EN in patients on cardiovascular support due to potential splanchnic perfusion changes.
  • Evaluating EN tolerance in this specific pediatric population is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the tolerance of enteral nutrition in pediatric patients receiving cardiovascular medications.
  • To investigate potential adverse events associated with concurrent EN and cardiovascular drug administration.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of pediatric intensive care unit admissions over one year.
  • Inclusion criteria: patients receiving EN during or within 24 hours of continuous infusion cardiovascular medications (e.g., dopamine, epinephrine).

Main Results:

  • 71% of patients had feeding interruptions, but 70% were unrelated to gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance.
  • Only 29% of interruptions were for perceived GI intolerance, with vomiting being the most common reason.
  • Constipation occurred in 36% but rarely cited as a reason for interruption; GI bleeding was infrequent and mostly unrelated to EN.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric patients on cardiovascular medications can often tolerate EN without significant adverse events.
  • Further prospective research is necessary to confirm the benefits of EN in this vulnerable patient group.
Abstract

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