Impact of an enteral nutrition protocol in critically ill patients with burn injuries

OBJECTIVES:The objective of this study is to characterize the University of Florida (UF) Health Shands Burn Centers enteral nutrition protocol as it relates to total protein intake and clinical outcomes. METHODS:This retrospective chart review study included 99 adult patients admitted to the UF Health Shands Burn Center from January 2012 through August 2016 with burns of twenty percent or greater TBSA and required enteral nutrition supplementation. RESULTS:Patients received an average of 137.8 g or 2.03 g/kg protein daily. Fifteen percent of patients experienced graft loss. The median length of stay was 35 days. Seventy-six percent survived to hospital discharge. There was no significant association between total protein intake and incidence of severe diarrhea (P=0.132). CONCLUSION:The institutions protocol achieved high protein administration while still being consistent with recommendations from the American Society of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition (ASPEN).