Effects of nutritional support on the hypermetabolism of patients with digestive tract fistula

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of nutritional support on the hypermetabolism of patients with digestive tract fistula complicated with severe abdominal infection. Methods Twenty-nine patients with digestive tract fistula complicated with severe abdominal infection were administered parenteral nutrition (PN) for 4 to 8 days, and then followed by enteral nutrition (EN) or EN + PN. The body weight, serum albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, fibronectin were monitored before and on the 10th and 28th day after nutritional support. Results The levels of serum prealbumin and fibronectin were increased significantly on the 10th day after nutritional support (t = 3.72, 3.52, P <0.01). The body weight, the levels of serum albumin, transferrin, prealbumin and fibronectin were significantly higher than those before nutritional support (t=3.97, 6.57, 7.09, 3.51, 3.58, P<0.01). Conclusion Nutritional support is effective in alleviating hypermetabolism of patients with digestive tract fistula complicated with severe abdominal infection. Key words: Nutritional support; Surgical infection; Digestive tract fistula; Metabolism