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Problems With Optimal Energy and Protein Delivery in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Yara M F Moreno1, Daniela B Hauschild2, Eliana Barbosa3

  • 1Graduate Program in Nutrition, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil yara.moreno@ufsc.br.

Nutrition in Clinical Practice : Official Publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
|April 15, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Critically ill children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) often receive suboptimal nutrition therapy, with actual energy and protein intake significantly lower than prescribed needs. This underfeeding, due to prescription gaps and feeding interruptions, impacts patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Clinical nutrition
  • Nutritional support

Background:

  • Optimal nutrition therapy (NT) is crucial for improving outcomes in critically ill children.
  • Barriers frequently prevent adequate energy and protein delivery in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the discrepancy between prescribed and actual energy and protein intake in pediatric intensive care unit patients.
  • To identify factors contributing to suboptimal nutrition delivery.

Main Methods:

  • A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted in southern Brazil.
  • 130 children (1 month to 15 years) admitted to the PICU were enrolled.
  • Demographics, clinical data, and nutrition therapy details were collected.

Main Results:

  • Actual energy intake averaged 47% of predicted expenditure, with 68% of patients underfed.
  • Actual protein intake was 49% of estimated requirements.
  • Nutrition therapy was interrupted in 64% of patients.

Conclusions:

  • Significant deficits exist between energy/protein requirements, prescription, and actual delivery in the PICU.
  • Suboptimal prescription practices and frequent feeding interruptions lead to underfeeding in critically ill children.
Abstract

Keywords:
critical carecritical illnessenergyenteral nutritionintensive care unitparenteral nutritionpediatricsprotein

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