Abstract

SANCHEZ-ARIAS, Mario. Nutrición enteral temprana, en pacientes con abdomen abierto. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2006, vol.48, n.1, pp.12-16. ISSN 0001-6002.

Ojective: To observe enteral nutrition feasibility in patients with "open abdomen" their evolution and complications. Methods: This is an observational study of patients with "open abdomen" who were admitted to the Intermediate Care Unit of the Surgical Service at the Calderón Guardia Hospital between june 2003 to November 2004, with a yeyunal access for nutrition. Results: Fifteen patients were studied with an average age of 36 years, all of them with open abdomen and jejunal access, who got early enteral nutrition (36 hrs) with a polymeric formula, starting at 23 cc/hrs and were then advanced 6.6cc/ daly for 9 days, reaching 80% of the patients, 80% of threir requirements in 4.6 days. There was not mortality but 33% did not have good tolerance because of persistent leakage. Those were accordingly changed to total parenteral nutrition. Conclusions: Enteral nutrition can be used in patients with open abdomen if they have a jejunal access and are fed with small volumes and are advanced slowly according to the function of their small bowel.

Keywords : Early enteral nutrition; open abdomen; nutrition in critical care.