Similar Mortality Is Seen with Early Enteral vs. Parenteral Nutrition in Critically Ill Patients

How and when to feed critically ill patients remains a subject of hot debate. The data supporting U.S. and European guideline recommendations for early enteral feeding are limited, particularly with respect to the sickest population of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. French investigators randomized 2410 patients supported by both mechanical ventilation and vasopressors to early parenteral or enteral nutrition. Caloric intake was targeted at 20 to 25 kilocalories per kg body weight per day during the first 7 days of ICU admission. Nutrition was started within 24 hours of randomization.

Mortality (28-day, 90-day, in-ICU, and in-hospital) was similar between groups. Both groups had similar lengths of stay and rates of liberation from life s…