Effects of intravenous fluid overload on caloric and protein deficit in critically ill patients.

Introduction: intravenous fluid overload may lead to dysmotility that may impair early enteral nutrition delivery in critically ill patients.

Objectives: this study aimed to compare the volume of intravenous fluids (IF) with the occurrence of caloric and protein deficits in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients.

Methods: this cohort study included critically ill patients with mechanical ventilation and receiving early enteral nutrition (target: 25-30 kcal/kg/day and 1.25-2.0 g of protein/kg/day). Over the first five days the volume of IF infused and caloric/protein deficits were calculated.

Results: eighty-six critically ill patients (SAPS III score: 62 ± 10) with a mean age of 68 (18-91) years were enrolled. Patients received a median of 2,969 (920-5,960) ml/day of IF, which corresponded to a median of 41.6 (17.0-88.2) ml/kg/day and 10.7 (3.31-21.45) g of sodium/day. All patients had a caloric deficit (mean: 1,812 ± 850 kcal over five days) and in 23 (27%) this deficit exceeded 480 kcal/day. The mean protein deficit was 94.6 ± 5.9 g over five days, and 34 patients (40%) had more than 20 g of deficit/day. Patients with caloric deficit greater than 480 kcal/day received approximately 1.5 l of IF and 10 g of NaCl more than the other patients. Similarly, patients with protein deficit greater than 20 g/day received approximately 3 l of IF and 25 g of NaCl more than the other patients. Mortality was greater in patients with critical protein deficit (69% vs 41.1%; p = 0.01).

Conclusion: in critically ill patients receiving enteral nutrition, the volume of intravenous fluids infused affected nutrition delivery and increased caloric and protein deficits.