Early enteral nutrition and factors related to in-hospital mortality in people on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract

ObjectivesThere are concerns about adverse events related to early enteral nutrition (EN) in people receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This was a retrospective study evaluating. This nutritional support of people receiving ECMO, factors that may confer benefits in outcomes. Methods60 adults on ECMO who survived for more than 48 h were enrolled in the study. We evaluated energy and protein intake and the associations of the timing, adequacy, and route of nutrition with in-hospital mortality. ResultsThirty-three participants (55%) were successfully weaned off ECMO, and 30 (50%) survived. EN was initiated on day 2 of ECMO (interquartile range, 1–3), and the mean energy intake on day 7 of ECMO was 94.1% ± 41.8% of the energy requirement. Although early EN significantly decreased in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio, 0.413; 95% confidence interval, 0.174–0.984; P = 0.046), neither adequate energy intake (hazard ratio, 0.982; 95% confidence interval, 0.292–3.301; P = 0.977) nor EN-dominant nutritional support (hazard ratio, 0.394; 95% confidence interval, 0.138–1.128; P = 0.083) in the first week influenced survival. ConclusionsAlthough adequate nutritional support and EN-dominant nutritional support were not associated with changes in outcome, early EN was associated with reduced in-hospital mortality. Therefore, even when EN is not the dominant route of nutritional support, early EN may be recommended for better outcomes in people on ECMO.