Effect of early nutritional support on clinical course and septic complications in patients with severe burns

Retrospective and prospective analyses of methods for nutritional support were carried out to assess their efficiency in covering the calculated caloric and protein needs of patients with severe burns. The energy and protein needs of the patients in Group 1 (study group) with nutritional support started 24 h after the thermal trauma were determined by the Toronto formula or by means of indirect calorimetry. Nutritional support of patients in Group 2 (control group) were initiated on day 4 post-trauma. The patients in the two groups were similar in respect to age, gender, body surface area burned, and injury severity score. We found statistically significant differences in the metabolic response of both groups as measured by nitrogen balance, serum proteins, and absolute lymphocyte count. Significant differences were also registered in body weight loss, number of positive haemocultures, and the complications rate.