A Study of Early Parenteral Nutritional Support and Factors Associated with Clinical Outcomes in Major Pediatric Burn Patients

Abstract

Objectives: Adequate nutritional support is one of the challenging treatments of major pediatric burns. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is one of the options to achieve daily caloric goal. Latest nutritional guidelines recommend late PN initiation due to unclear benefit over risk based on the limited data. Our study provides the data of parenteral nutrition within 7 days post admission (early PN) and factors affecting clinical outcomes in major pediatric burn patients.
 Methods: A retrospective study was conducted regarding pediatric burn patients who had over 15% of their total body surface area (TBSA) with second- or third-degree burns. All the patients were classified as requiring early PN support or non-early PN support.
 Results: 124 major pediatric burns were reviewed. Eighty-six patients (65.2%) were male, and the median age was three years (0.3-15 years). Early PN showed no association with length of hospital stay (LOS) (p=0.480) or a 30-day mortality (p=0.529). The children’s age, wound infections, and abdominal distension were the independent associated factors of LOS (p=0.025, 0.001, and 0.003 respectively). Pneumonia and urinary tract infection were independent factors associated with 30-day mortality (p=0.025).
 Conclusions: Early PN in acute pediatric burns was not associated with LOS or 30-day mortality. It can be considered as options of nutritional support in acute, major pediatric burns. Effective management of wound infections and abdominal distension may reduce LOS.