Abstract

Author(s): Nayane Brito Menezes, Nara1; Teixeira da Silva, Juliana1; Cutunda Brito, Luciana2, Noronha de Gois, Fernanda1; Cunha de Oliveira, Carolina3

Introduction: Early enteral nutritional therapy is indicated for the severe patient and contribute significantly to reduce the lenght of hospital stay and the morbidity e mortality of these patients. However, patients on intensive therapy shows inadequacies regarding nutritional support and rarely recieve 100% of the prescribed diet.

Objectives: To evaluate the caloric and protein adequacy between enteral nutritional therapy prescribed and administered in critical patients, as well as to verify the main complications related to nutritional therapy.

Methods: Longitudinal and descriptive study, with 52 patients receiving exclusive enteral nutritional therapy, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The nutritional assessment, caloric and protein requirements calculation and nutritional prescription were performed by the nutritionist of the hospitals, and the information was collected in medical records. The volume of diet received in 24 hours was verified directly in the infusion pump, from this information the calculations were made for analysis of adequacy.

Results: Malnutrition was present in 40.4% of the patients. The average energy adequacy prescribed in relation to the patients’ energy needs was 91.3%. The overall average of the adequacy of energy and protein intake received in relation to the energy-protein requirement of the patients was 77.2% and 73.8%, respectively.

Conclusion: It was verified that due to interruptions, critical patients receive less enteral diet than prescribed, making it impossible to reach the therapeutic goal. The adequacy between prescribed and administered enteral nutritional therapy may prevent a greater IMPAIRMENT of the nutritional status of these patients, and may be related to the better prognosis of the patient.