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Nutrition, enteral: introducing and establishing (PICU) & management of "High Risk Abdomen" patients

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Objectives

  • To provide clear guidance to nursing and medical staff on introducing and establishing enteral nutrition (gastric and jejunal) in paediatric critical care patients.
  • To standardise time taken to establish enteral nutrition.
  • To provide clear guidance on the measuring of GRVs and how these should be interpreted.
  • To provide clear guidance to PICU staff on the nutritional care management of ‘High Risk Abdomen’ patients and thereby ensure consistency of care provision.

This guideline should be interpreted in conjunction with the NHSGG&C PICU Guideline on Administration of Medication via Enteral Feeding Tubes 2009 and NHSGG&C PICU Guideline on Blind Bedside Jejunal Tube Insertion 2009.

Scope

This guideline applies to all patients in Ward 1D, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) within the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow who require enteral nutrition.  

Audience

All healthcare professionals in PICU involved in the provision of nutrition should be familiar with this guideline.

Introduction

Optimal provision of nutrition support and accurate assessment of energy expenditure should form an integral component of paediatric critical care (Mehta et al, 2009a). Nutritional status has a profound effect on the metabolic response to injury and can impact significantly on patient outcome (Mitchell et al, 1994) including length of ventilated days and overall length of PICU stay (Larsen et al, 2008). The goal of nutrition support in the critical care setting aims to augment the short term benefits of the paediatric stress response while minimising the long term harmful consequences associated with undernutrition.

It is widely accepted that enteral nutrition is the preferred method of feeding due to its physiological advantages of maintaining gut integrity and reducing infectious complications compared with parenteral nutrition. There are numerous studies which suggest that early implementation of nutritional support (within 24hrs) is associated with improved clinical outcomes, shorter length of stay, decreased infection rates and enhanced immune function (Petrillo-Albarnano et al 2006). This supports the theory that systematic initiation of enteral nutrition may improve patient outcomes in critical illness.

Providing nutritional care in critically ill children poses a number of challenges including fluid restriction, digestive intolerance and interruptions in enteral feed delivery for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (Lambe et al, 2007Mara et al, 2004) resulting in a failure to deliver estimated energy requirements (Gentles et al. 2014Mara et al. 2014Cohen et al 2000 and de Neef et al, 2007).  Failure to provide nutritional intake equal to or exceeding the predicted basal metabolic rate (PBMR) is associated with higher mortality and morbidity rates (Briassoulis et al, 2001).  

The lack of controlled research and clinical trials in critically ill children has resulted in an absence of widely accepted evidence based guidelines for optimal nutritional management in this group (Van der Kuip et al, 2004). However many UK PICU’s have implemented local guidelines for introducing and establishing enteral nutrition in their critically ill populations. It has been reported that this has resulted in more rapid initiation of enteral feeding, shortened the time taken to reach nutritional goals and improved the tolerance of enteral feeding (Gentles et al. 2014Petrillo—Albarnano et al, 2006 and Briassoulis et al, 2001). 

Measurement of gastric residual volumes (GRVs) is used routinely to assess enteral feed tolerance in both adult and paediatric critical care units.  Elevated GRVs are associated with sedation and catecholamine use (Mentec et al, 2001) and in paediatric patients are often attributed to gastroparesis. There is wide debate over the use of measuring GRVs to assess feed tolerance. Although McClave et al (2005) state that GRVs  are inherently flawed as they have yet to be validated, current opinion also suggests that a GRV > 5ml/kg can be considered to be an indicator of poor feed tolerance and delayed gastric emptying (Cobb et al, 2004 and Horn et al, 2004).

A local guideline addressing both the introduction and advancement of enteral feed as well as the measurement of GRVs should improve nutritional delivery in PICU.

Initiating nutritional support in infants following cardiac surgery is influenced by a number of factors but principally the clinical assessment of cardiac output is crucial in deciding whether to initiate enteral or parenteral nutrition.  Reduced cardiac output particularly when requiring inotropic support results in increased concern regarding splanchnic hypoperfusion and gut ischaemia.  Patients with single ventricle physiology (i.e. HLHS following Norwood stage 1 palliation), reliant on a balanced circulation may be at increased risk of compromised splanchnic blood flow (Owens and Musa, 2009).  Novel monitoring modalities have recently demonstrated impaired mesenteric/splanchnic tissue oxygenation in neonates who develop necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) (Fortune et al, 2001) and similarly in a case study of a patient with congenital heart disease who developed NEC (Stapleton et al 2007).  The risk of NEC in neonates with congenital heart disease is substantial (McElhinney et al, 2000).  

Following cardiopulmonary bypass Malagon et al (2005) identified that gut permeability is increased and damage to the intestinal mucosa is sustained, this once again leads to increased concern regarding the introduction and advancement of enteral nutrition in such a fragile patient group due increased concern of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC).  Similarly, increased gut mucosal permeability leading to compromised intestinal integrity has been found in patients undergoing veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), leading to bacterial translocation and sepsis (Kurundkar et al 2010Piena et al, 1998).  Introducing enteral nutrition in patients undergoing veno-venous ECMO has been reported to be safe in the adult population (Scott et al, 2004) and the use of enteral feeding in neonates on both VV and VA ECMO is advocated, however, the rate at which enteral feed should be advanced has yet to be examined (Piena et al, 1998Pettignano et al, 1998 and Hanekamp et al, 2005).  

A study in stable preterm neonates found that splanchnic oxygenation increases following bolus gastric feeding (Dave et al, 2009), however, in patients at risk of mesenteric ischaemia this increased oxygenation demand may further increase the risk of NEC and warrants further research.  It could be argued that continuous feeding may be more appropriate than bolus, thereby reducing the demand on mesenteric oxygen consumption.

The introduction of feeding algorithms in patients with HLHS have been shown to enhance nutritional care and patient outcome (Castillo et al 2010Braudis et al, 2009) and the introduction of such guidelines for patients identified as ‘High Risk Abdomen’ may also achieve similar improvements in patient morbidity and mortality. 

PICU guideline for the introduction of enteral nutrition - gastric feeding

PICU guideline for the introduction of enteral nutrition - jejunal feeding

PICU guideline for the nutritional management of 'high risk abdomen'

Fasting guidance for procedures on PICU patients in PICU or Theatre

Appendix 1: PICU Initiation, Advancement and Target Rates for Enteral Nutrition

The following tables are for use in conjunction with PICU Guidelines for Introducing & Establishing Enteral Nutrition (Gastric and Jejunal). Table 1 details the initiation and advancement rates of enteral feeds. Tables 2A-C details the recommended target daily volume of enteral feed to meet nutritional requirements within given age ranges.       

By using the below initiation and advancement rates patients will meet their basal metabolic rate (BMR) within 2 days of starting enteral nutrition (if fluid balance and gastrointestinal tolerance allows the increase to goal volumes detailed in Tables 2A-C).

The below feed target volumes (Tables 2(a)-2(c)) are calculated using the Schofield Predictive Formula for calculating resting energy expenditure (using median weight from the UK-WHO growth charts ages 0-4 and the UK 1990 reference for children aged >4 years), and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), 2011 in addition to the Department of Health guidelines for EAR, 1991.

Calculations for target daily volumes are made using median weight from the UK-WHO growth charts ages 0-4 and the UK 1990 reference for children aged >4 years.  Where EAR using the SACN, 2011 recommendations and the Department of Health guidelines for EAR, 1991 differed by >20% (e.g. age group 7-12 months), a mean of the two values is used to calculate target rates for EAR.

 

Table 1: Initiation and Advancement Rates for Enteral Nutrition

Weight

Initiation Rate

Advancement Rate

Goal Rate

0-40kg

Start at 0.5-1ml/kg/hr (maximum of 20ml/hr)

Increase by 0.5-1ml/kg (or maximum of 20ml/hr)every 4 hours


See Tables 2(a)-2(c) below

>40kg

20ml/hr

Increase by 0.5-1ml/kg every 4 hours

 

Table 2(a): Recommended Target Daily EN Volume: Infants Male & Female, age <12 months

Age (months)

Feed Conc (kcal/ml)

Feed Type


Daily Target Feed Volume (ml/kg/day)

 


Day of Admission

 

0-3

3-7

Extubated or >Day 7

BMR-70%EAR

70-100%EAR

100%EAR

1-2

0.7

Std Formula/EBM

75-100

100-145

145-180

 

1

*Infatrini / *Infatrini Peptisorb

50-75

75-96

96-120

3-4

0.7

1

Std Formula/EBM

75-100

100-145

145

 

0.7

1

*Infatrini / *Infatrini Peptisorb

50-75

75-96

96

5-6

0.7

1

Std Formula/EBM

82-100

100-135

135

 

0.7

1

*Infatrini / *Infatrini Peptisorb

55-70

70-90

90

7-12

0.7

1

Std Formula/EBM

82-100

100-135

135

 

0.7

1

*Infatrini / *Infatrini Peptisorb

55-70

70-90

90

*Infatrini /Infatrini Peptisorb should not be used in children <3 kg and should be used with caution in those <5kg. Notify dietitian if patient admitted on Infatrini/Infatrini Peptisorb.

 

Table 2(b): Recommended Target Daily Volumes of EN, Males >1 year old 

Table 2(b): Recommended Target Daily Volumes of EN, Males >1 year old

Age

(years)

Feed conc.

(kcal/ml)

Feed Type

Daily Target Feed Volume (ml/kg/day)

Day of Admission

0-3

BMR-70%EAR

3-7

70-100%EAR

Extubated or >Day 7

100%EAR

1

1.0

Nutrini

56

56-80

80

(9.6kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

37

37-53

53

2

1.0

Nutrini

57

57-82

82

(12.2kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

38

38-55

55

3

1.0

Nutrini

58

58-82

82

(14.4kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

39

39-55

55

4

1.0

Nutrini

54-60

60-85

85

(16.3kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

36-40

40-57

57

5

1.0

Nutrini

50-56

56-80

80

(18.6kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

33-37

37-53

53

6

1.0

Nutrini

47-52

52-74

74

(21.0kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

31-35

35-49

49

7

1.0

Nutrison Standard

45-50

50-71

71

(23.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

30-33

33-47

47

8

1.0

Nutrison Standard

42-47

47-67

67

(26.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

28-31

31-45

45

9

1.0

Nutrison Standard

40-44

44-63

63

(29.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

27-29

29-42

42

10

1.0

Nutrison Standard

39-45

45-64

64

(31.5kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

26-30

30-43

43

11

1.0

Nutrison Standard

37-43

43-62

62

(34.5kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

25-29

29-41

41

12

1.0

Nutrison Standard

35-41

41-59

59

(38.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

23-27

27-39

39

13

1.0

Nutrison Standard

33-39

39-56

56

(43.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

22-26

26-37

37

14

1.0

Nutrison Standard

31-38

38-54

54

(49.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

21-25

25-36

36

15

1.0

Nutrison Standard

30-36

36-51

51

(55.5kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

20-24

24-34

34

16

1.0

Nutrison Standard

29-34

34-49

49

(60.2kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

19-23

23-33

33

17

1.0

Nutrison Standard

28-34

34-48

48

(64.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

19-23

23-32

32

18

1.0

Nutrison Standard

28-34

34-48

48

(66.2kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

19-23

23-32

32

 

Table 2(c): Recommended Target Daily Volumes of EN, Females >1 year old

Age

(years)

Feed conc.

(kcal/ml)

Feed Type

Daily Target Feed Volume (ml/kg/day)

Day of Admission

0-3

BMR-70%EAR

3-7

70-100%EAR

Extubated or >Day 7

100% EAR

1

1.0

Nutrini

55

55-80

80

(9.0kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

37

37-53

37-53

2

1.0

Nutrini

56

56-81

81

(11.5kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

37

37-54

54

3

1.0

Nutrini

55

55-78

78

(13.9kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

37

37-52

52

4

1.0

Nutrini

51-57

57-81

81

(16.0kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

34-38

38-54

54

5

1.0

Nutrini

47-53

53-75

75

(18.2kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

31-35

35-50

50

6

1.0

Nutrini

43-49

49-70

70

(21.0kg)

1.5

Nutrini Energy

29-33

33-47

47

7

1.0

Nutrison Standard

41-47

47-67

67

(23.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

27-31

31-45

45

8

1.0

Nutrison Standard

39-44

44-63

63

(26.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

26-29

29-42

42

9

1.0

Nutrison Standard

37-41

41-59

59

(29.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

25-27

27-39

39

10

1.0

Nutrison Standard

35-43

43-61

61

(32.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

23-29

29-41

41

11

1.0

Nutrison Standard

33-39

39-56

56

(35.9kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

22-26

26-37

37

12

1.0

Nutrison Standard

31-37

37-53

53

(40.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

21-25

25-35

35

13

1.0

Nutrison Standard

28-34

34-48

48

(46.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

32-23

23-32

32

14

1.0

Nutrison Standard

27-32

32-46

46

(51.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

18-21

21-31

31

15

1.0

Nutrison Standard

26-32

32-45

45

(53.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

17-21

21-30

30

16

1.0

Nutrison Standard

26-31

31-44

44

(55.3kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

17-21

21-29

29

17

1.0

Nutrison Standard

26-30

30-43

43

(57.0kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

17-20

20-29

29

18

1.0

Nutrison Standard

29-30

30-43

43

(57.2kg)

1.5

Nutrison Energy

19-20

20-29

29

Appendix 2: Table 3: Enteral Feed choices in PICU

When initiating enteral feeds in PICU use Table 3 to guide you through feed choice.

Age / Weight Range

Type of Enteral Feed

< 12 months

(or <12 months corrected age for premature infants born <37 weeks)

  • Expressed Breastmilk
  • Standard Infant Formula (e.g. SMA Pro 1, Aptamil Profutura, C&G1 etc.) 0.7kcal/ml
  • *High Energy Infant Formula ~1kcal/ml (e.g. Infatrini or SMA High Energy)
  • *Specialist Infant Formula 0.7kcal/ml (e.g. Peptijunior/Nutramigen)

1-6 years (and weight >8kg)

  • Nutrini / Nutrini Multifibre (1kcal/ml)
  • *Nutrini Energy/ Nutrini Energy Multifibre (1.5kcal/ml)
  • *Nutrini Peptisorb (1kcal/ml)

> 6 years (and weight >20kg)

  • Nutrison Standard/Multifibre (1kcal/ml)
  • *Nutrison Energy/ Nutrison Energy Multifibre (1.5kcal/ml)
  • *Nutrison Peptisorb (1kcal/ml)

*For all High Energy Enteral Feeds and Specialist Enteral Feeds please consult PICU Dietitian before initiating in PICU

References
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Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 01 August 2016

Next review: 08 December 2022

Author(s): Emma Gentles (Dietitian), Dr Neil Spenceley (Consultant), Dr Mark Davidson (Consultant), Susan Miller (Charge Nurse)

Reviewer Name(s): Dr Neil Spenceley

Document Id: 34