Caloric Requirements of Patients With Brain Impairment and Cerebral Palsy Who Are Dependent on Chronic Ventilation
A new study on the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition has been published showing the importance of indirect calorimetry measurements to accurately indicate the true caloric requirements of patients suffering from severe brain damage and requiring mechanical ventilation.
The purpose of this present study was to determine the true caloric needs of patients With Brain Impairment and Cerebral Palsy by measuring resting energy expenditure (REE) through a reproducible and noninvasive tool—namely, indirect calorimetry, which can be performed at the bedside.
A cohort of 16 patients hospitalized in a 24-bed unit within a 350-bed hospital for chronic patients was assessed with indirect calorimetry. The patients were ventilated via a tracheostomy with a cuffed endotracheal tube to prevent air leaks.
The main finding of this study was that "the REE of this population was very low, only about half that of healthy children and adolescents. This relationship was not influenced by age, body mass index, diagnosis, or length of hospitalization. A diet guided by indirect calorimetry is proposed to aid in providing optimal nutrition support for this unique population to avoid overfeeding and obesity".
The article details are the following:
- Title: "Caloric Requirements of Patients With Brain Impairment and Cerebral Palsy Who Are Dependent on Chronic Ventilation."
- Authors: Gale R, Namestnic J, Singer P, Kagan I
- Published in: JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2016 Aug 15
The full study can be downloaded for free at the following link: click here
