Hypocaloric vs. Full Enteral Feeding for Patients with Acute Lung Injury

Clinical outcomes, including number of ventilator-free days and mortality, did not differ between the two nutritional support strategies.

Although the appropriate strategy for providing nutrition to critically ill patients remains unclear, some research suggests that hypocaloric feeding has beneficial effects on intestinal function, compared to full feeding. The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Clinical Trials Network examined whether initial trophic (hypocaloric) enteral feeding shortens duration of ventilation compared with full enteral nutritional support.

In a multicenter randomized trial, 1000 patients with acute lung injury received either trophic enteral feeding (10–20 kcal/hour) or full enteral feeding (25–30 kcal/kg/day) for the first 6 days of mechanical ventilation. All patients received low tidal volume ventilation and conservative fluid management. Most …

Reviewing Author

Patricia Kritek, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsATS Scholar

Patricia Kritek, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsATS Scholar