How long are burn patients really NPO in the perioperative period and can we effectively correct the caloric deficit using an enteral feeding “Catch-up” protocol?

Large thermal injuries and the ensuing adrenergic response creates a profound hyper-metabolic state characterized by a global increase in oxygen consumption and acute and long-term acceleration of protein catabolism [1,2]. The increased metabolic needs of a burn patient mandate increased caloric intake that often requires the use of an enteral feeding tube. Enteral nutrition is associated with improved outcomes, including blunting of the hyper-metabolic response [3], decreased ventilator days, time-to-wound healing, incidence of infectious complications, and mortality [4 –6].

Source: Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries - August 13, 2018 Category: Cosmetic Surgery Authors: C.H. Pham, Z.J. Collier, A.B. Webb, W.L. Garner, T.J. Gillenwater Source Type: research