Safety of Enteral Feedings in Critically Ill Children Receiving Vasoactive Agents.

Background: The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety of enteral feeding in children receiving vasoactive agents (VAs).

Methods: Patients aged 1 month to 18 years with a pediatric intensive care unit stay for ≥96 hours during 2007 and 2008 who received any VA (epinephrine, norepinephrine, vasopressin, milrinone, dopamine, and dobutamine) were included and categorized into fed and nonfed groups. Their demographics, clinical characteristics, type and dose of VA, and presence of gastrointestinal (GI) outcomes were obtained.

Early enteral nutrition is associated with lower mortality in critically ill children.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of early enteral nutrition (EEN), defined as the provision of 25% of goal calories enterally over the first 48 hours of admission, with mortality and morbidity in critically ill children.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study of patients in 12 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). We included patients aged 1 month to 18 years who had a PICU length of stay (LOS) of ≥96 hours for the years 2007-2008.

Registered dietitians making a difference: early medical record documentation of estimated energy requirement in critically ill children is associated with higher daily energy intake and with use of the enteral route.

Background: Establishing a caloric requirement or energy target is a recommended part of any nutrition care plan.

Objective: Our objective was to describe early documentation of a caloric requirement in critically ill children, and to determine if this would have any effect on daily energy intake and route of nutrition.

Design: We used a descriptive chart review of a subgroup of patients included as part of a larger, retrospective multicenter study.