The Journal of burn care & rehabilitation
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J Burn Care Rehabil · Mar 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEnteral feeding during operative procedures in thermal injuries.
Multiple surgical procedures necessitated by thermal trauma traditionally require withholding nutritional support during the perioperative period. Significant caloric deficits develop with subsequent catabolism of body tissues to provide energy and amino acids for the synthesis of protein. Eighty patients, matched for age and total body surface area burn, were enrolled in a study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of providing enteral support throughout operative procedures. ⋯ No patient in either group experienced aspiration. The unfed group demonstrated a significant caloric deficit (p < 0.006) and increased incidence of wound infection (p < 0.02) and required more albumin supplementation to maintain serum levels at a minimum of 2.5 gm/dl (p < 0.04). Enteral nutrition can be provided safely during the perioperative period and provides the additional benefits of reducing caloric deficits, wound infections, and exogenous albumin supplementation.