Comparison of the effect between enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition among elderly patients with critical pulmonary infection

Objective To compare the effect between enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition among elderly patients with critical pulmonary infection. Methods A total of 60 elderly patients with critical pulmonary infection from October 2011 to May 2014 were randomly divided into enteral nutrition group and parenteral nutrition group with 30 cases each. After 2 weeks of nutritional support, the nutritional status, liver function, complications, hospitalization costs and time were compared. Results Hemoglobin, albumin, prealbumin, total protein was (136.20±3.53) g/L, (40.25±1.65) g/L, (95.97±4.22) mg/L, (75.30±5.30) g/L in enteral nutrition group and (128.10±4.22) g/L, (36.80±1.17) g/L, (84.08±4.86) mg/L, (63.76±6.92) g/L in parenteral nutrition group, there was significant difference between 2 groups (t=24.36-83.76, all P<0.01). Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin was (57.47±9.08), (33.53±4.21), (13.82±2.59), (5.66±1.22) μmol/L in enteral nutrition group and (75.77±6.96), (47.93±8.28), (24.70±6.44), (14.77±2.77) μmol/L in parenteral nutrition group, there was significant difference between 2 groups(t=30.90-305.34, all P<0.01). The complications of enteral nutrition group in intestinal infection rate was 10.0% (3/30), urinary tract infection was 13.3% (4/30), constipation was 6.7%(2/30), and parenteral nutrition group were 36.7%(11/30), 33.3%(10/30), 63.3%(19/30), the difference between 2 groups was statistically significant (χ2=5.96, 3.35, 21.17, all P<0.05). The hospitalization costs and the hospitalization time was (3 345.00±617.80) yuan, (18.00±3.70) d in enteral nutrition group and (7 617.00±870.76) yuan, (28.00±5.67) d in parenteral nutrition group, the difference between 2 groups was statistical significance (t=2 779.11, 27.31, all P<0.05). Conclusions Early enteral nutrition or transit parenteral nutrition to enteral nutrition should be applied among elderly patients with critical pulmonary infection in order to improve nutritional status, enhance immunity, reduce complication, and promote recovery. Key words: Eldly; Critical pulmonary infection; Parenteral nutrition; Enteral nutrition