A comparison study between early enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition in severe burn patients

This clinical study compares effects between enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition in the early stage of severe burns. Nineteen cases of severe burn patients were divided randomly into total enteral nutrition group (TEN) and total parenteral nutrition group (TPN). Plasma motilin, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), serum gastrin, diamine oxidase (DAO), and urine lactulose/mannitol ratio (L/M) was determined on post burn day (PBD) 1, 4, 8, 14, respectively. The results showed that serum gastrin, plasma motilin, and SOD were significantly higher in TEN than in TPN on PBD4, 8 (p<0.05-0.01). Plasma MDA was obviously lower in TEN than in TPN on PBD4, 8 (p<0.01). Plasma endotoxin was significantly lower in TEN than in TPN on PBD4, 8 (p<0.01). Plasma TNF were significantly lower in TEN than in TPN on PBD4, 8, 14 (p<0.01). The level of serum DAO and urine L/M ratio in TEN was obviously lower than in TPN on PBD4 and 8, respectively (p<0.05-0.01). A positive correlation between L/M and DAO, MDA, TNF (r=0.5822-0.7598, p<0.05-0.01), and a negative correlation between L/M and SOD (r=-0.7771, p<0.01), and a positive correlation between plasma endotoxin and TNF, MDA (r=0.9038 and 0.6705, p<0.05-0.01) were found. These results indicate that enteral nutrition was a more effective route to preserve gastrin secretion and motility of gastrointestinal tract, lower intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury, reduce intestinal permeability, decrease plasma endotoxin and inflammatory mediators, and maintain mucosa barrier function. Whenever gastrointestinal function permits, enteral nutrition was superior to parenteral nutrition early after burn.