Nutrition therapy in sepsis: characterization and implications for clinical prognosis

Introduction: the inflammatory response caused by sepsis leads to metabolic changes, which may result in significant lean mass loss in septic patient. Because of this, when digestive tract is functional, nutritional therapy (NT) must be initiated within 48 hours of intensive treatment to reduce protein loss. Objective: to evaluate enteral nutritional therapy (ENT) in adult septic patients with exclusive ENT for 72 hours and length of stay 7 days in Intensive Care Unit and its relationship with clinical prognosis. Methods: we prospectively analyzed the adequacy of enteral nutrition administered, factors associated with non-conformity, gastrointestinal tolerance and outcome. Statistical tests of chi-square and Student's t as well as Mann-Whitney and Spearman and Pearson correlations (p < 0.05) were used. A multiple logistic regression model has been done by using the stepwise method to evaluate the association between predictors of clinical outcome. Results: 53 patients, 67.9% male and 52.8% elderly were enrolled in this study. The average time for starting ENT was 30 (23.5) hours, and 88.7% of patients achieved nutritional goal in 48 hours. The mean volume delivered in relation to prescribed was 78.9%. When the sample was stratified according to administered/prescribed calories, patients who received < 80% had a higher mortality rate (p = 0.001) and the caloric intake >= 80% was the determining factor in patients' clinical prognosis (p = 0.021). Conclusion: septic patients received early enteral nutrition. The nutritional goal and the mean volume delivered in relation to the prescribed volume meet the intensive care guidelines. The nutritional support was associated with clinical outcome, and caloric intake >= 80% determining the clinical prognosis. The pauses caused by reflux were significant in the group of patients who died and it may be related to disease severity.