Improvement of Nutritional Intake in Intensive Care Unit Patients via a Nurse-Led Enteral Nutrition Feeding Protocol

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 38-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ira Orinovsky ◽  
Ela Raizman

Background Enteral nutrition in intensive care unit patients has important prognostic clinical value. Feeding protocols are recommended by clinical practice guidelines as a key strategy to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of enteral feedings. Objective To examine whether enteral nutrition in critically ill patients could be improved by implementation of a nurse-led evidence-based feeding protocol. Methods An interprofessional group of intensive care unit nurses, physicians, and a clinical dietitian designed a protocol to address and correct the shortcomings of enteral feeding. Data on feeding and clinical outcomes were collected retrospectively for patients for 12 months before (control group) and then for 12 months after (interventional group) implementation of the protocol. Results Enteral feeding was started significantly earlier (P = .007) after admission to the intensive care unit in the intervention group (52.3 hours; SD, 42.6) than in the control group (70.3 hours; SD, 65.2). Use of the protocol resulted in a significant increase in nutritional intake; 90% of patients in the intervention group but only 34% in the traditional feeding group achieved their caloric target within 96 hours after admission (P < .001). After implementation of the protocol, cessation of feeding due to intolerance was significantly less (P = .03) in the intervention group (6%) than in the traditional feeding group (14 %), and no adverse events were detected. Conclusions Adherence to standardized guidelines with a written protocol for an early start and timely escalation of enteral feeding can improve nutritional intake among intensive care unit patients.

Author(s):  
Morteza Habibi Moghadam ◽  
Marzieh Asadizaker ◽  
Simin Jahani ◽  
Elham Maraghi ◽  
Hakimeh Saadatifar ◽  
...  

 Objective: Venous thromboembolism, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a common complaint in critically ill patients. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of nursing interventions, based on the Wells results, on the incidence of DVT in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.Methods: The present clinical trial was conducted on 72 ICU patients without DVT and PE who met the inclusion criteria according to Wells score in Dr. Ganjavian Hospital, Dezful in 2012. The participants were investigated and randomly divided into intervention (n=36) and control groups (n=36). The intervention group received preventive nursing measures based on the risk level determined by the Wells score, and routine therapeutic interventions were performed for the control group. Then, patients were evaluated using Wells score, D-dimer testing, and Doppler sonography on the 1st, 5th, and 10th days. Data were finally coded and entered into SPSS version 23. Data analysis was performed using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and Mann–Whitney U tests.Results: The incidence of DVT in both groups showed that 2 patients of the control group who were identified to be at risk using the Wells score were diagnosed with DVT while none of the patients of the intervention group experienced DVT. The present study showed that 22.2% of the patients of the control group suffered from non-pitting edema, which was significantly different from the intervention group (p=0.005).Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that using the Wells score for early identification of the at-risk patients and nursing interventions based on this score’s results is helpful in the prevention of DVT. Appropriate nursing interventions were also effective in reducing the incidence of non-pitting edema in the lower extremities.


2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Ahrens ◽  
Valerie Yancey ◽  
Marin Kollef

• Background Inadequate communication persists between healthcare professionals and patients and patients’ families in intensive care units. Unwanted or ineffective treatments can occur when patients’ goals of care are unknown or not honored, increasing costs and care. Having the primary physician provide medical information and then having a physician and clinical nurse specialist team improve opportunities for patients and their families to process that information could improve the situation. This model has not been tested for its effect on patients’ outcomes and resource utilization.• Objectives To evaluate the effect of a communication team that included a physician and a clinical nurse specialist on length of stay and costs for patients near the end of life in the intensive care unit.• Methods During a 1-year period, patients judged to be at high risk for death (N = 151) were divided into 2 groups: 43 patients who were cared for by the medical director teamed with a clinical nurse specialist and 108 patients who received standard care, provided by an attending physician.• Results Compared with the control group, patients in the intervention group had significantly shorter stays in both the intensive care unit (6.1 vs 9.5 days) and the hospital (11.3 vs 16.4 days) and had lower fixed ($15 559 vs $24 080) and variable ($5087 vs $8035) costs.• Conclusions Use of a physician and a clinical nurse specialist focused on improving communication with patients and patients’ families reduced lengths of stay and resource utilization.


2016 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 826-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Deschamps ◽  
Richard Hall ◽  
Hilary Grocott ◽  
C. David Mazer ◽  
Peter T. Choi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cerebral oxygen desaturation during cardiac surgery has been associated with adverse perioperative outcomes. Before a large multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the impact of preventing desaturations on perioperative outcomes, the authors undertook a randomized prospective, parallel-arm, multicenter feasibility RCT to determine whether an intervention algorithm could prevent desaturations. Methods Eight Canadian sites randomized 201 patients between April 2012 and October 2013. The primary outcome was the success rate of reversing cerebral desaturations below 10% relative to baseline in the intervention group. Anesthesiologists were blinded to the cerebral saturation values in the control group. Intensive care unit personnel were blinded to cerebral saturation values for both groups. Secondary outcomes included the area under the curve of cerebral desaturation load, enrolment rates, and a 30-day follow-up for adverse events. Results Cerebral desaturations occurred in 71 (70%) of the 102 intervention group patients and 56 (57%) of the 99 control group patients (P = 0.04). Reversal was successful in 69 (97%) of the intervention group patients. The mean cerebral desaturation load (SD) in the operating room was smaller for intervention group patients compared with control group patients (104 [217] %.min vs. 398 [869] %.min, mean difference, −294; 95% CI, −562 to −26; P = 0.03). This was also true in the intensive care unit (P = 0.02). There were no differences in adverse events between the groups. Conclusions Study sites were successful in reversal of desaturation, patient recruitment, randomization, and follow-up in cardiac surgery, supporting the feasibility of conducting a large multicenter RCT.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 380-389
Author(s):  
Arfiyan Sukmadi ◽  
Rr Sri Endang Pujiastuti ◽  
Aris Santjaka ◽  
Supriyadi Supriyadi

Background: The mechanical ventilator is an indispensable breathing tool in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). But the mechanical ventilator is associated with the risk of Ventilator Associated Penumonia (VAP). VAP occurs due to poor hygiene of the endotracheal tube (ETT). ETT hygiene should be maintained to inhibit bacterial development in the lungs using suction above cuff endotracheal tube (SACETT) to prevent VAP.Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of SACETT in preventing Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in critical patients in the ICU.Methods: This was a quasy experimental study with posttest only with control group design with 15 samples in intervention group (SACETT and Chlorhexidine 0.2%) and 15 in control group (ETT, Open Suction, and Chlorhexidine 0.2%) with purposive technique sampling. The Simplified Clnical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) was used to measure VAP.Results: This study illustrates that there was no VAP incidence in the intervention group, and as much as 13.3% VAP in the control group. SACETT was more effective in preventing VAP than in standard ETT on day 4 (p = 0.001).Conclusion: SACETT is more effective in preventing VAP than standard ETT in the fourth day in patients with neurological, cardiovascular, urinary, digestive, and immune system disorders.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 237796082096377
Author(s):  
Onur Çetinkaya ◽  
Özlem Ovayolu ◽  
Nimet Ovayolu

Introduction and Purpose Geriatric patients, who are fed by nasogastric tube (NG), may suffer from complications. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage on Gastric residual volume (GRV), distension, vomiting, and defecation in geriatric patients, who were hospitalized in intensive care unit and fed by NG. Methods The quasi-experimental study was conducted in intensive care units. The researcher applied abdominal massage to patients in the intervention group (n = 30) twice a day for 15–20 minutes before feeding. The data of the study were collected by using a questionnaire and a parameter questionnaire. Results GRV decreased significantly in the intervention group and increased significantly in the control group ( p < 0.05). The frequency of defecation significantly increased in intervention group ( p < 0.05). It was found that there was no positive effect of abdominal massage on vomiting ( p > 0.05). Conclusion It was observed that while abdominal massage reduced high GRV and distension incidence, it increased the incidence of defecation.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
HasanAli Karimpour ◽  
Behzad Hematpour ◽  
Saeed Mohammadi ◽  
Javad Aminisaman ◽  
Maryam Mirzaei ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Pneumonia caused by the ventilator is the most common acquired infection in the intensive care unit, which increases the morbidity and mortality of the patients. Eucalyptus plant has antiseptic properties. Therefore, the present study investigates the effect of eucalyptus incense on prevention of pneumonia in patients with endotracheal tube in the intensive care unit. Methods: This clinical trial study was performed on 100 patients under ventilation in two intervention and control groups in Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran in 2018. The patients in the intervention group, Eucalyptus solution 2% and in the control group received 10 cc distilled water as an inhaler three times a day. The results of the two groups were compared to the incidence of pulmonary infections based on CPIS criteria and compared with SPSS version 19 software. Results: The incidence of late pneumonia was significantly lower in the intervention group (P=0.02). The onset of pneumonia significantly later in the intervention group than the control group (P=0.01). The prevalence of Klebsiella, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus was significantly decreased in the intervention group (P=0.02) (P=0.04) (P=0.01). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that eucalyptus inhalation is effective in reducing the incidence of pulmonary infection in patients under ventilation. It is recommended that these products be used to prevent pulmonary infections in these patients.


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