[Nutritional support in rehabilitation of victims with severe combined trauma]

To evaluate the clinical and rehabilitation effectiveness of the protein module (Fresubin Protein) in therapeutic nutrition in patients with severe combined injury (polytrauma) at the rehabilitation stage in a specialized department (neurosurgery).

We examined 43 victims who received a combined injury that required treatment in the intensive care unit with subsequent transfer to a specialized department (neurosurgery). At the stage of treatment and rehabilitation in the specialized department, we assessed the biochemical parameters of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, body composition, as well as energy metabolism using indirect calorimetry, and the functional state of the gastrointestinal tract. In the comparison group, patients received a standard diet at the rate of 30 kcal/kg BW. The main group received a standard diet (30 kcal/kg BW) with the addition of a protein module (0.8 g/kg BW) to the diet as an additional source of protein.

In both observation groups, moderate to severe protein-energy malnutrition was diagnosed before the study (decreased total protein level - 50.63±1.3 g/l, albumin - 27.97±0.95 g/l, transferrin - 1.33±0.9 g/l). Anthropometric parameters (BMI=17.1±1.2 kg/m², BMD=20.15±1.5 cm, OP=22.2±1.1 cm, TKFST=8.4±0.5 cm) indicated a deficiency of the somatic protein pool, lean and fat body mass. No pronounced disorders of carbohydrate and fat metabolism were noted. A correlation was found between the dynamics of protein metabolism and the inflammatory process parameters (CRP, white blood cell count, r=-0.79, p=0.001). Against the background of nutritional support with the inclusion of a protein module in the diet, by the 21st day, patients of the main group showed a reliable (p<0.05) normalization of protein metabolism parameters, an increase in lean body mass.

The results of the studies indicate that in victims with severe combined trauma, upon admission to the treatment and rehabilitation stage in a specialized department, despite the intensive care provided in the intensive care unit, moderate to severe protein-energy malnutrition with severe protein metabolism disorders is diagnosed. This is manifested by a decrease in the concentration of total protein, albumin, transferrin, and somatic protein pool. Low lean mass values indicate a deficiency of the protein component of nutritional support, a decrease in lean and muscle mass. The consequence of which is a limitation of the volume of rehabilitation, an increased risk of complications. The identified protein deficiency dictates the need to increase the protein component of therapeutic nutrition. Inclusion of a protein module in the therapeutic nutrition program at the rate of 0.8 g/kg of body weight ensures adequate correction of protein metabolism disorders, overall nutritional status in severe combined injury and creates the prerequisites for increasing the effectiveness of rehabilitation measures.