Early Versus Late Enteral Nutrition in the Pediatric Critically-Ill Trauma Patient: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives: To determine the effect of early (within 48 hours of admission) enteral nutrition on length of stay (LOS) and number of ventilator days in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and identify associated barriers to initiation of enteral nutrition. Methods: A retrospective cohort study at a level 1 pediatric trauma center with a tertiary care PICU including all patients <18 years of age admitted with traumatic injuries, classified into an early enteral nutrition group vs. late enteral nutrition (>48 hours from admission). Primary outcomes of PICU and Hospital LOS and days on mechanical ventilation were compared between groups using multivariable negative binomial regression analysis to correct for confounding factors. Results: A total of 238 subjects were included in our study and then classified as either the early enteral nutrition (EEN) group (n=116) or the late enteral nutrition (LEN) group (n=122). Compared to the LEN group, the EEN group had a shorter PICU LOS (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) 1.26, 95% CI 1.02-1.56, p = 0.030) and hospital LOS (aIRR 1.36, 95% CI 1.10-1.69, p = 0.005), with no difference in number of days on mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: Initiation of EEN after admission to the PICU is associated with decreased PICU and hospital LOS with no effect on mechanical ventilation days after controlling for severity of illness, opioid total daily dose, use of vasoactive medications, number of regions injured and number of surgical procedures performed. Type of Study: Retrospective Cohort Study Level of Evidence: 3. (c) 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.