Study on application of early enteral nutrition support in patients with mechanical ventilation

Objective: To investigate the effects of early enteral nutrition on nutritional status and prognosis of patients with mechanical ventilation. Methods: Thirty cases with mechanical ventilation were randomly divided into two groups: 15 cases with early enteral nutrition ( EEN ) group and 15 cases with early total parenteral nutrition ( TPN ) group. The nutritional state, one week extubation success rate, incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia ( VAP ), average cost of nutrition, the duration of mechanical ventilation and the average length of hospital stay were compared between two groups before and after treatment with a similar caloric and nitrogen content. Results: The serum total protein, albumin, hemoglobin levels and nitrogen balance were significantly elevated after treatment for 2 weeks than before treatment in EEN group (P 0.05), and were higher than those in TPN group after treatment (P 0.05 ) . The upper arm muscle circumference, triceps skinfold thickness between the two groups had no difference (P 0.05 ). One week extubation success rate was significantly higher in EEN than that in TPN group ( P 0.05 ), the duration of mechanical ventilation and the average length of hospital stay were significantly less than those in TPN group (P 0.05 ). There was no statistical difference in incidence of VAP within one week between two groups (P 0.05 ). Conclusions: EEN can improve the nutritional status and prognosis of patients with mechanical ventilation. Enteral nutrition should be carried out as early as possible if patients' gastrointestinal function is normal.