Clinical Outcomes of Inadequate Calorie Delivery and Protein Deficit in Surgical Intensive Care Patients.

Background: Adequate nutritional therapy in critically ill patients is integral to optimal outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the association between cumulative macronutrient deficit and overall morbidity in surgical intensive care unit patients.

Methods: Adult patients receiving enteral nutrition for more than 72 hours were included if they had no previous admission to the surgical intensive care unit, had received no enteral feedings before admission, had no intestinal obstruction or ileus, and survived 72 hours or more after admission. Data on demographics, outcomes, and nutritional intake during the unit stay were collected for up to 14 days until oral intake began, discharge, or death. Outcome variables included lengths of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit, days with no mechanical ventilation, complications, and mortality.

Results: Of 94 participants, 71% were men, mean age was 63 years, and mean score on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II was 14. Patients with high cumulative calorie deficit (≥ 6000 cal) and high protein deficit (≥ 300 g) had significantly fewer days with no mechanical ventilation (P < .001), longer unit stays (P < .001), longer hospital stays (P = .007), more total complications (P = .007), and more infectious complications (P = .009) than other participants. These associations remained significant in multivariable models after adjustments for age, sex, reason for admission, and propensity score of deficit. In-hospital and 30-day mortality did not differ.

Conclusions: Cumulative macronutrient deficits have important clinical outcomes in surgical intensive care patients.