Artificial Nutritional Support Research Articles

Contemporary Perioperative Nutritional Care.

Over the last decades, surgical complication rates have fallen drastically. With the introduction of new surgical techniques coupled with specific evidence-based perioperative care protocols, patients today run half the risk of complications compared with traditional care. Many patients who in previous years needed weeks of hospital care now recover and can leave in days. These remarkable improvements are achieved by using nutritional stress-reducing care elements for the surgical patient that reduce metabolic stress and allow for the return of gut function. This new approach to nutritional care and how it is delivered as an integral part of enhancing recovery after surgery are outlined in this review. We also summarize the new and increased understanding of the effects of the routes of delivering nutrition and the role of the gut, as well as the current recommendations for artificial nutritional support.

Nutritional management of patients during surgical prehabilitation and rehabilitation programs

Undernutrition (UD) increases perioperative morbidity and mortality. Its prevention and treatment are therefore essential in surgical prehabilitation and rehabilitation programs. Nutritional treatment is individualized according to the patient's nutritional status, ingesta and protein-energy requirements. Oral nutrition is optimized to increase intakes through personalized dietary advice and oral nutritional supplements. Artificial nutrition support is indicated in cases of UD or high risk of UD before major surgery. Enteral nutrition is preferred to parenteral nutrition when the digestive tract is functional.

Bioimpedance-assessed muscle wasting and its relation to nutritional intake during the first week of ICU: a pre-planned secondary analysis of Nutriti Study

BackgroundMuscle mass evaluation in ICU is crucial since its loss is related with long term complications, including physical impairment. However, quantifying muscle wasting with available bedside tools (ultrasound and bioimpedance analysis) must be more primarily understood. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) provides estimates of muscle mass and phase angle (PA).The primary aim of this study was to evaluate muscle mass changes with bioimpedance analysis during the first 7 days after ICU admission. Secondary aims searched for correlations between muscular loss and caloric and protein debt.MethodsPatients with an expected ICU-stay ≥ 72 h and the need for artificial nutritional support were evaluated for study inclusion. BIA evaluation of muscle mass and phase angle were performed at ICU admission and after 7 days. Considering the difference between ideal caloric and protein targets, with adequate nutritional macronutrients delivered, we calculated the caloric and protein debt. We analyzed the potential correlation between caloric and protein debt and changes in muscle mass and phase angle.Results72 patients from September 1st to October 30th, 2019 and from August 1st to October 30th, 2021 were included in the final statistical analysis. Median age was 68 [59–77] years, mainly men (72%) admitted due to respiratory failure (25%), and requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for 7 [4–10] days. Median ICU stay was 8 [6–12] days. Bioimpedance data at ICU admission and after 7 days showed that MM and PA resulted significantly reduced after 7 days of critically illness, 34.3 kg vs 30.6 kg (p < 0.0001) and 4.90° vs 4.35° (p = 0.0004) respectively. Mean muscle loss was 3.84 ± 6.7 kg, accounting for 8.4% [1–14] MM reduction. Correlation between caloric debt (r = 0.14, p = 0.13) and protein debt (r = 0.18, p = 0.13) with change in MM was absent. Similarly, no correlation was found between caloric debt (r = -0.057, p = 0.631) and protein debt (r = -0.095, p = 0.424) with changes in PA.Conclusionsbioimpedance analysis demonstrated that muscle mass and phase angle were significantly lower after 7 days in ICU. The total amount of calories and proteins does not correlate with changes in muscle mass and phase angle.

Il supporto nutrizionale nell’anoressia nervosa

Paediatric departments are increasingly faced with adolescents with anorexia nervosa in severe nutritional and metabolic decompensation. Artificial nutritional support, often indispensable in the most critical phases of the course, requires careful evaluation of the clinical conditions at the time of hospitalization and equally punctual monitoring of blood chemistry variables during re-feeding. Prolonged reduced caloric intake and malnutrition, especially in its most extreme forms, can cause damage to various organs and systems and the refeeding syndrome must be kept in mind as a further comorbidity and aggravating factor of the patient's conditions. Through the description of a clinical case of particular complexity, some aspects related to the hospital treatment of anorexia nervosa are discussed.

Nourishment or Punishment: Nutrition support towards the end of life

Artificial nutrition support during the end-of-life is deemed non-beneficial. Withholding nutrition when the patient is near death is a controversial and ethical dilemma that families and healthcare workers face. For family, feeding is a source of showing love and affection to loved ones and it is distressing for them to see their loved one die painfully with hunger and thirst. Therefore, healthcare workers need to counsel families regarding the benefits and drawbacks of artificial nutrition toward the end of life. The family must be taught about alternative means of comfort for patients like mouth care, offering back massage, or moistening lips to interact with patients during end-of-life.

Nutritional Support in Terminal Patient

Malnutrition is a frequent problem in the situation of terminal illness. The indication of artificial nutritional support in these patients creates ethical conflicts that are difficult to resolve. Palliative care is a type of approach that seeks the humanization and wellbeing of patients with chronic conditions, regardless of the underlying disease. In this sense, seeking the joint participation of a multidisciplinary care team, the patient, and his or her family is the main goal. In patients in this situation, nutrition should be regarded as an approach that is able to provide benefits but that can also bear risks. Therefore, its indication should be subject to a careful and continuous evaluation. Indication for hydration and artificial nutrition (HAN) is based on respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Nutrition in palliative patients should be addressed in the same ways as other care processes, such as antibiotic therapy or mechanical ventilation. Therefore, HAN should be indicated to improve patient comfort and clinical outcomes, but when HAN results in suffering or discomfort, outweighing its benefits it should be contraindicated or discontinued. This paper suggests lines of action that can serve as clinical guidance, although decision-making must always be individualized, taking into account the balance between risks and benefits of this treatment modality. The patient's wishes must be given top priority.

Nutrition delivery across hospitalisation in critically ill patients with COVID-19: An observational study of the Australian experience

BackgroundData on nutrition delivery over the whole hospital admission in critically ill patients with COVID-19 are scarce, particularly in the Australian setting. ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to describe nutrition delivery in critically ill patients admitted to Australian intensive care units (ICUs) with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with a focus on post-ICU nutrition practices. MethodsA multicentre observational study conducted at nine sites included adult patients with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis admitted to the ICU for >24 h and discharged to an acute ward over a 12-month recruitment period from 1 March 2020. Data were extracted on baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes. Nutrition practice data from the ICU and weekly in the post-ICU ward (up to week four) included route of feeding, presence of nutrition-impacting symptoms, and nutrition support received. ResultsA total of 103 patients were included (71% male, age: 58 ± 14 years, body mass index: 30±7 kg/m2), of whom 41.7% (n = 43) received mechanical ventilation within 14 days of ICU admission. While oral nutrition was received by more patients at any time point in the ICU (n = 93, 91.2% of patients) than enteral nutrition (EN) (n = 43, 42.2%) or parenteral nutrition (PN) (n = 2, 2.0%), EN was delivered for a greater duration of time (69.6% feeding days) than oral and PN (29.7% and 0.7%, respectively). More patients received oral intake than the other modes in the post-ICU ward (n = 95, 95.0%), and 40.0% (n = 38/95) of patients were receiving oral nutrition supplements. In the week after ICU discharge, 51.0% of patients (n = 51) had at least one nutrition-impacting symptom, most commonly a reduced appetite (n = 25; 24.5%) or dysphagia (n = 16; 15.7%). ConclusionCritically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia were more likely to receive oral nutrition than artificial nutrition support at any time point both in the ICU and in the post-ICU ward, whereas EN was provided for a greater duration when it was prescribed. Nutrition-impacting symptoms were common.

ERAS with or without supplemental artificial nutrition in open pancreatoduodenectomy for cancer. A multicenter, randomized, open labeled trial (RASTA study protocol)

The role of supplemental artificial nutrition in patients perioperatively treated according to enhanced recovery programs (ERAS) on surgery-related morbidity is not known. Therefore, there is a need of a clinical trials specifically designed to explore whether given a full nutritional requirement by parenteral feeding after surgery coupled with oral food "at will" compared to oral food "at will" alone, within an established ERAS program, could achieve a reduction of the morbidity burden. RASTA will be a multicenter, randomized, parallel-arm, open labeled, superiority trial. The trial will be conducted in five Italian Institutions with proven experience in pancreatic surgery and already applying an established ERAS program. Adult patients (age ≥ 18 and < 90 years of age) candidate to elective open pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for any periampullary or pancreatic cancer will be randomized to receive a full ERAS protocol that establishes oral food "at will" plus parenteral nutrition (PN) from postoperative day 1 to day 5 (treatment arm), or to ERAS protocol without PN (control arm). The primary endpoint of the trial is the complication burden within 90 days after the day of surgery. The complication burden will be assessed by the Comprehensive Complication Index, that incorporates all complications and their severity as defined by the Clavien-Dindo classification, and summarizes postoperative morbidity with a numerical scale ranging from 0 to 100. The H0 hypothesis tested is that he administration of a parenteral nutrition added to the ERAS protocol will not affect the CCI as compared to standard of care (ERAS). The H1 hypothesis is that the administration of a parenteral nutrition added to the ERAS protocol will positively affect the CCI as compared to standard of care (ERAS). The trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (number: NCT04438447; date: 18/05/2020). This upcoming trial will permit to establish if early postoperative artificial nutritional support after PD may improve postoperative outcomes compared to oral nutrition alone within an established ERAS program.

Oral, enteral and parenteral nutritional therapies in scleroderma: A systematic review.

Scleroderma is a multi-system disease that causes hardening of connective tissue. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is affected in 90% of patients, which may cause nutritional decline. Due to the rarity of the disease, current nutritional guidelines in scleroderma are extrapolated from evidence in other chronic diseases. This systematic review examines the effects of oral nutrition supplements (ONS), enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) on both clinical and nutritional outcomes of scleroderma patients. Three separate systematic searches for scleroderma and ONS, EN, and PN were performed. The searches were conducted using EMBASE, PubMed and Web of Science databases. A total of 9 studies (ONS: 2, EN: 1 and PN: 6) met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the review. All patients had scleroderma and were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition [weighted average age: 53 years, Body Mass Index (BMI): 19kg/m2]. Artificial nutrition support was shown to be an effective therapy for preventing nutritional decline and reversing malnutrition but had no impact on disease progression. Mean BMI increased with home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and EN, from 15kg/m2 to 21.0kg/m2. Weight was maintained with ONS, and sarcopenia decreased. Only HPN positively impacted quality of life and GI symptoms, with complication rates similar to patients with other indications. Scleroderma patients should be routinely screened for malnutrition. Malnutrition is treated in a stepwise manner, starting with ONS, then EN and finally PN, based on GI sufficiency and tolerance of the patient. HPN is an effective therapy for patients with advanced disease and intestinal failure. However, larger, long-term, prospective studies for each nutritional therapy are required to make firm conclusions.

Dysbiosis in Children With Neurological Impairment and Long-Term Enteral Nutrition.

Severe neurological impairment (NI) is often accompanied by the need for artificial nutritional support, normally provided enterally (enteral nutrition [EN]) to ensure growth, counteract morbidity and mortality, and improve quality of life. On the other hand, long-term EN (LTEN) may contribute to the establishment, or exacerbation, of gastrointestinal disorders that may lead to malnutrition, which in turn is associated with alterations in gut microbiota (GM) composition and functional capacities. To the best of our knowledge, we investigated, for the first time in this study, the consequences of LTEN in a pediatric population in this pathological context. Using amplicon sequencing, we compared the fecal microbiota of a pediatric population suffering from severe NI and under LTEN to that of sex- and age-matched controls. The two groups presented evident differences in GM composition and a consistent differential clustering. In general, the taxonomic picture in NI children under LTEN seemed to mirror a profound dysbiotic condition, in which anti-inflammatory taxa appear severely depleted (among others, the Clostridiales families of Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, and, within the latter, Faecalibacterium spp. and Gemmiger spp.), while known pathobionts (Gammaproteobacteria and Klebsiella) or emerging pathogens (e.g., Synergistales, Cloacibacillus, and Fusobacterium) were significantly enriched. Our data suggest that LTEN has a significant impact on the GM taxonomic composition in NI children. Even if other factors are probably at work, such as the bidirectional interaction between gastrointestinal impairment/immaturity and the central nervous system (CNS), the assumption of drugs, and physical inactivity, these data define possible routes and targets to try to alleviate this dysbiosis, with a view to better management of these patients and an improvement in their quality of life.

Predictive validity of the GLIM criteria in treatment outcomes in cancer patients with radiotherapy

The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) proposed a scheme for malnutrition diagnosis. However, the validity of the GLIM criteria has not been well-established in adults with cancer. This study aimed to validate the GLIM criteria by comparing its predictive validity in treatment-related outcomes to the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), a validated malnutrition assessment tool in cancer patients. This is a secondary analysis using data from a multi-center randomized clinical trial. Malnutrition at admission was identified based on the GLIM criteria and PG-SGA. Their predictive validities in treatment-related outcomes were compared, including radiotherapy-induced severe toxicities, radiotherapy interruption, and use of artificial nutrition support during radiotherapy and quality of life (QoL) after radiotherapy. Data from 468 adult cancer patients (mean age: 59.8 years, gender: 41.9% female) receiving radiotherapy revealed that malnutrition rate was 33.7% and 39.7% based on the GLIM criteria and PG-SGA, respectively. Patients with increased degree of malnutrition at admission had increased rates of severe toxicities, treatment interruption, and use of artificial nutrition support during radiotherapy well as decreased scores of QoL in all domains after radiotherapy. The GLIM criteria performed better in predicting severe toxicities and treatment interruption, while PG-SGA better predicted the use of artificial nutrition support and QoL scores. This study provided evidence on the predictive validity of the GLIM criteria in treatment-related outcomes in comparison to PG-SGA. The GLIM criteria was found to be a valid tool in diagnosing malnutrition; however, its predictive performances varied in related to different outcomes.

Nutrition support for critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Italian SIAARTI survey

BackgroundCritically ill, COVID-19 patients are characterized by a hypermetabolic state and a reduced food intake and are at high risk of malnutrition and lean body mass loss. An appropriate metabolic-nutritional intervention aims to reduce complications and improve the clinical outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional, multicenter, observational, nationwide online survey involving Italian Intensivists to assess the nutritional practices in critically ill patients with COVID-19.ResultsA group of experts in nutrition of the Italian Society of Anaesthesia Analgesia Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SIAARTI) developed a 24-item questionnaire; the 9000 members of the Society were invited to participate through emails and social networks. Data was collected from June 1 to August 1, 2021.A total of 545 responses were collected: 56% in northern, 25% in central, and 20% in southern Italy. Artificial nutrition support is directly handled by intensivists in > 90 of the cases; the nutritional status is assessed as suggested by the guidelines in more than 70% of the cases, and a form of nutrition support is started within the first 48 h from ICU admission by > 90% of the respondents. Nutritional targets are reached in 4–7 days in > 75% of the cases, mainly by the enteral route. Indirect calorimetry, muscle ultrasound, and bioimpedance analysis are used by a limited part of the interviewees. Only about a half of the respondents reported the nutritional issues in the ICU discharge summary.ConclusionsThis survey among Italian Intensivists during the COVID-19 epidemic showed how the beginning, progression, and route of nutritional support adhere to international recommendations, while recommendations on the tools to set the target and monitor the efficacy of the metabolic support are less followed.

Glycemic variability in critical care patients with artificial nutrition

Rationale: Hyperglycemia is a common phenomenon in the critically ill patient and has beendirectly related to its morbidity and mortality. However, glycemic variability ispostulated as a factor of poor prognosis of greater relevance than hyperglycemiaper se. The aim of this study is to evaluate glycemic variability in patients who require artificial nutritional support.

Refeeding syndrome in surgical patients post initiation of artificial feeding, a prospective cohort study in a low-income country.

South Africa's inequitable history has contributed to a malnourished population, further aggravated by high levels of violence and economic uncertainty culminating in a population suffering the sequelae of poverty. The perceived notion is that malnutrition places the South African population at greater risk for development of refeeding syndrome. This study aimed to identify the incidence of refeeding syndrome in the South African population. All patients admitted into the surgical intensive care unit from 1 November 2019 to 30 September 2020, were screened using the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) refeeding risk criteria. Patients started on artificial feeds with one or more risk factors were included in the study. The syndrome was confirmed using the King's College criteria and compared with the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) criteria for refeeding syndrome. 200 Patients were included in this study. The median age of the sample population was 41 years (IQR 30-58) with a male predominance (63%). All patients included had one or more risk factors and 62 (31%) of patients fulfilled the NICE criteria. The sensitivity of the NICE criteria was 33% and specificity was 70%. The most common risk factors identified were little or no nutritional intake for >5 days (55%) followed by a history of alcohol abuse, drugs including insulin, chemotherapy, diuretics or antacids (18%). Specificity values for all risk factors were >80% apart from little or no nutritional intake for >5 days which had a specificity of 64.2%. Sensitivity values for all risk factors were low. 84.5% of patients received artificial nutritional support in the form of enteral feeds, 9% parenteral and 6.5% both enteral and parenteral feeds. A total of 146 patients required electrolyte supplementation. Three patients fulfilled the King's College criteria and one subsequently died. In comparison, 25 patients fulfilled the ASPEN criteria and 3 demised. Due to the low sensitivity and specificity of the NICE criteria, we advise that it be used merely as a guideline to identify patients at risk of refeeding syndrome and one should remain vigilant in patients with any risk factors present. Due to the small number of patients who fulfilled the King's College criteria and significant difference in incidence when compared to the ASPEN definition, a conclusion regarding the accuracy of both diagnostic criteria could not be made. We recommend a review of the current definition and a global adoption of an agreed criteria for the estimation of the true prevalence.

Applying learning from 1st to the 3rd wave of the covid19 pandemic: nutritional provision in critical care

Rationale: The aim of this analysis was to compare route and adequacy of nutrition support in patients with COVID19 admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) between March-June 2020 (T1) compared to January-April 2021 (T2). Methods: Parameters related to nutrition support were collected from the records of all patients admitted to ICU with COVID19 with length of stay of ≥7days on mechanical ventilation requiring artificial nutrition support. Data was collected during the late acute phase which was defined as day 4-7 post intubation. Energy and protein intake was compared to calculated estimated nutritional requirements. Results: 35 patients met the inclusion criteria in T1, 94% were on enteral nutrition (EN), 3% parenteral nutrition (PN) and 3% EN+PN. In T2, there were 54 patients (92% EN, 2% PN and 6% EN+PN). Tabled 1March – June 2020 (N=35)January – April 2021 (N=54)P valueEnergy (% requirements met)85 (24)96 (23.0)0.022Protein (% requirements met)68 (28)79 (26.1)0.076 Open table in a new tab Of patients who achieved <70% of energy and protein requirements in T1 (n=17) 35% had constipation or ileus and 47% had GI intolerance (high gastric residual volumes or vomiting). In T2 (n=19), 84% experienced constipation or ileus and 63% had GI intolerance. 35% of patients in T1 had hypernatraemia vs. 47% in T2 and 41% in T1 had hyperglycaemia vs. 100% in T2 despite only 12% and 32% of patients respectively having a history of diabetes. Conclusion: Despite a higher incidence of GI intolerance in T2, a statistically significant improvement in energy targets was noted. There was a clinically significant trend in protein intake which may be attributed to prompt initiation of modular protein supplements or perhaps an earlier transition from fat-based sedation. Meeting protein requirements while preventing overfeeding remains a challenge in the ICU. Disclosure of Interest: None declared.

Early Enteral Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Complications in Pediatric Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

ABSTRACTObjectives:To assess the safety of enteral nutrition (EN) in children on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). To describe nutritional status and the characteristics of the nutritional support in this population.Methods:A retrospective single-center analysis (2006–2016) including children <18 years on ECMO. Demographic data, nutritional status, characteristics of nutritional support, and development of gastrointestinal (GI) complications were recorded.Results:One hundred children, with a median age of 9.7 months (interquartile range [IQR] 3.9–63.1) were enrolled. Undernutrition was prevalent among children on ECMO (33.3%) mainly in patients <2 years (P = 0.042). Most patients (64%) received EN at some point during ECMO therapy. EN was administered in the first 48 hours after ECMO initiation (48HEN) to 60.3% of the children.Mortality rate in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit was lower in patients who received EN as the initial artificial nutrition support (ANS) (37.7 vs 51%, P = 0.005) and in children on 48HEN (34% vs 50%, P = 0.04). In the logistic regression analysis, duration of ECMO support and low cardiac output indication were the only factors associated with mortality.Although most patients on ECMO (45%) developed digestive complications, they were mostly mild, being constipation the most prevalent. In the logistic regression analysis, EN was not associated with an increase in GI complications (P = 0.09). Only three patients developed intestinal ischemia (one without EN and two on EN).Conclusions:Undernutrition is prevalent among children on ECMO, mainly in infants <2 years. EN is not associated with severe gastrointestinal complications or higher mortality in these children.

Nutritional considerations in severe primary chronic small intestinal dysmotility.

To provide an update on the recent evidence underpinning the approach to nutritional care in patients with severe primary chronic small bowel dysmotility. Patients with severe chronic small intestinal dysmotility suffer nutritional and nonnutritional morbidity, both as a result of their underlying polysymptomatic, poorly understood condition and the interventions required. A proportion require artificial nutrition support; however, this is associated with impaired quality of life and associated complications. The approach to nutritional support must therefore engage a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to ensure that decisions to escalate beyond oral nutrition reflect individualised risk-benefit discussions while adopting a holistic approach to symptom management. Since nutritional outcomes are worse in those with the chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) phenotype, differentiation into CIPO and non-CIPO subgroups, using a pragmatic diagnostic approach rather than invasive/poorly tolerated investigations, can be an important step in achieving nutritional care tailored to the individual. Malnutrition in patients with severe chronic small intestinal dysmotility is multifactorial. Early engagement of a broad team that includes dietitians, psychologists and pain management experts is crucial to achieving the most beneficial and least harmful patient-centred nutritional care outcomes.

Effect of nutritional support on nutritional status and inflammation in malnourished patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Protein energy wasting/malnutrition is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). We aimed to compare the effects of oral and/or intradialytic parenteral nutrition (IDPN) support on nutritional and inflammatory parameters in malnourished patients with MHD. This is an observational study of 56 malnourished patients on MHD. We offered combined oral nutritional support (ONS) and IDPN for 12 months to all patients. Depending on patient choices for treatment, they were classified into four groups: group 1 (ONS only), group 2 (IDPN only), group 3 (both ONS and IDPN), and group 4 (patients who refused artificial nutrition support and only followed dietary advice). Normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), malnutrition inflammation score (MIS), and body composition (fat mass [FM], muscle mass [MM]) were assessed monthly. The mean serum albumin levels of groups 2 and 3 significantly increased with the intervention, whereas that of group 4 significantly decreased. The mean nPCR levels of groups 2 and 3 significantly increased. Group 3 had the most significant positive change in serum albumin and nPCR levels. Mean serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of groups 1, 2, and 3 decreased, whereas those of group 4 increased. A ∆ in CRP was only identified in group 3. The MIS of groups 1, 2, and 3 significantly decreased whereas that of group 4 significantly increased. The ∆% in FM was 1.1, 1.9, 9.1, and -2.9 for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and that in MM was -0.6, 4.4, 6.9, and -7.9 for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Compared to monotherapy or nutritional counseling, the choice of ONS plus IDPN is associated with improved nutritional status and decreased inflammation in malnourished patients on MHD. Nonetheless, interventional studies must be conducted to confirm these observations.

The impact of gastrostomy feeding on the lives of patients: A systematic review

Rationale: Gastrostomy feeding is commonly used to support patients with dysphagia requiring artificial nutritional support. However, its effect on the lives of patients is not well understood. The aim of the systematic review is to review studies that assess the impact of gastrostomy, in terms of the benefits and challenges presented by gastrostomy feeding by assessing qualitative evidence. We also analysed quantitative evidence, in terms of complications and mortality, and tools which assess the needs of patients post-gastrostomy.

Meaning of Receiving Artificial Nutritional Support in People in the Postoperative Period of Abdominal Surgery.

Objective. This work sought to describe the meaning of receiving artificial nutritional support in people in the postoperative period of abdominal surgery. Methods. This was a qualitative study of grounded theory, following the guidelines by Corbin and Strauss. The information was collected through 26 in-depth interviews with 21 participants, interned in a tier III health care hospital in the city of Tunja, Colombia. Results. The study describes four categories, which account for the way in which the person experiences physical, physiological, emotional, and social changes when receiving artificial nutritional support. The categories include stopping eating and becoming artificially fed, decreasing the ability to move to recover movement, experiencing the difficulty of having artificial nutritional support, and reaching the disease to transform life. The data analysis shows that the basic surgical pathology and the artificial nutritional support are sudden events that fragment the daily life of the person. These individuals demand the mobilization of religious, family, and social resources to strengthen the person’s internal and external environment and, thus, achieve the health situation. Conclusions. The analysis of the meanings shows how the person reflects and interprets the reality of receiving artificial nutritional support, an event that has implicit physical discomfort, emotional changes, and physical appearance, which are determinants in the behavior and practice of artificial nutrition. However, artificial nutritional support becomes for the person an alternative to live and recover the state of health.