Effect of enteral nutrition support therapy on the prognosis of post-operative patients with severe traumatic brain injury

Objective To evaluate the effect of enteral nutrition support (ENS) theraphy on the improvement of nutrition condition in post-operative patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). Methods Thirty post-operative patients with severe traumatic brain injury were treated by enteral nutrition support therapy. Nutrient (fresubin) was given continuously and evenly with infusion pump through nasogastric tube in 24 hours, for 20-73 days (mean 32 days). Nutrient was infused in low dose (300-400 ml) for adaptation in the early stage, and then increased to full dose (1 500-2 000 ml) according to individual differences. Body mass (BM), serum albumin (SA), serum prealbumin (PA), and hemoglobin (HGB) were determined regularly. Effect of enteral nutrition support therapy on the complication in digestive tract was observed. Results After treatment no differences of BM change were seen between enteral nutrition support group and parenteral nutrition group (P 0.05). The reduction of SA, PA, and HGB in enteral nutrition support group was significantly lesser than that in parenteral nutrition group (P 0.05). During enteral nutrition support treatment, no severe digestive tract complications were seen, and no obvious abnormal liver function, renal function, glycometabolism, and lipometabolism were found. Conclusion Enteral nutrition support is quite effective and causes less complications. Rational enteral nutrition support theraphy can effectively enhance the recovery of post-operative patients with severe traumatic brain injury.