BACKGROUND: Establishing and sustaining enteral feeding in critically ill children is challenging and has met with many problems. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate (a) how actual calorie intake compared with estimated caloric requirements and (b) whether feeding guideline adherence resulted in improved nutritional intake. DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was undertaken over 1 month in a tertiary referral paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in the northwest of England. RESULTS: Forty-seven children were studied, with a wide range of diagnoses in a 1-month period. Only 47% of the children had enteral feeds started within our 6 h post-admission target. Over half (55%) of the children received less than half of their estimated calorie requirements, but if feeding guidelines were followed, this resulted in a significantly higher (p = 0.004) delivery of the child's estimated requirements. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that many children are not receiving adequate nutrition in PICU and that the use of feeding guidelines significantly improves calorie delivery in PICU patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This paper highlights the dearth of research related to enteral feeding in critically ill children. We found that the use of feeding guidelines improved calorie delivery and so units should be encouraged to develop their own guidelines based on the best evidence available.
BACKGROUND: Establishing and sustaining enteral feeding in critically ill children is challenging and has met with many problems. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate (a) how actual calorie intake compared with estimated caloric requirements and (b) whether feeding guideline adherence resulted in improved nutritional intake. DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was undertaken over 1 month in a tertiary referral paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in the northwest of England. RESULTS: Forty-seven children were studied, with a wide range of diagnoses in a 1-month period. Only 47% of the children had enteral feeds started within our 6 h post-admission target. Over half (55%) of the children received less than half of their estimated calorie requirements, but if feeding guidelines were followed, this resulted in a significantly higher (p = 0.004) delivery of the child's estimated requirements. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that many children are not receiving adequate nutrition in PICU and that the use of feeding guidelines significantly improves calorie delivery in PICU patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This paper highlights the dearth of research related to enteral feeding in critically ill children. We found that the use of feeding guidelines improved calorie delivery and so units should be encouraged to develop their own guidelines based on the best evidence available.
Authors: Lyvonne N Tume; Kerry Woolfall; Barbara Arch; Louise Roper; Elizabeth Deja; Ashley P Jones; Lynne Latten; Nazima Pathan; Helen Eccleson; Helen Hickey; Roger Parslow; Jennifer Preston; Anne Beissel; Izabela Andrzejewska; Chris Gale; Frederic V Valla; Jon Dorling Journal: Health Technol Assess Date: 2020-05 Impact factor: 4.014
Authors: Susan Hamilton; Diane M McAleer; Katelyn Ariagno; Megan Barrett; Nicole Stenquist; Christopher P Duggan; Nilesh M Mehta Journal: Pediatr Crit Care Med Date: 2014-09 Impact factor: 3.624
Authors: Tomasz Nabialek; Lyvonne N Tume; Eloise Cercueil; Claire Morice; Lionel Bouvet; Florent Baudin; Frederic V Valla Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2022-05-11 Impact factor: 3.569
Authors: Elizabeth Deja; Louise Roper; Lyvonne N Tume; Jon Dorling; Chris Gale; Barbara Arch; Lynne Latten; Nazima Pathan; Helen Eccleson; Helen Hickey; Jenny Preston; Anne Beissel; Izabela Andrzejewska; Frédéric V Valla; Kerry Woolfall Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2021-02-16