The study of hospital bavage solution and calorie and protein in take. For patients needs from the special care unit at Imam Khomeini hospital, Sari, Iran during 2005-2006

Background and

Malnutrition is a major problem within intensive care units (ICU) affecting the outcome of patients. In Imam Khomeini Hospital, patients were fed with gavage solutions prepared in the kitchen of hospitals, however, it's nutritional value has not been studied at present time. The aim of this study was to analyze the gavage solution and to compare the calculated nutritional demand with the provided values.

The amount of carbohydrate, lipid and protein of gavage solution has been determined with Leen ion, Gerber and Kejeldal methods, respectively. In this study, 30 patients with at least 5 days in the ICU were included. Daily metabolic needs were calculated with Harris-Benedict equation and then, calculated calorie and protein values were compared with the provided values.

The carbohydrate, lipid, protein and energy contents of gavage solutions were 0.035 ±0.002 g/ml, 0.0225±0.017 g/ml, 0.012 ± 0.002 g/ml, and 0.39 ± 0.164 Kcal/ml. The calorie and protein provided by the hospital solution, in comparison to the standard enteral solutions, were 32.5% and 16% respectively. Total energy expenditure (TEE) at the time of admission to ICU was 2302 ± 633 Kcal/ per day. During week 1, 2, and 3, TEE was 2301±634, 2283 ± 661 and 2228 ± 790 respectively. Maximum provided energy was 600 ± 632 Kcal/ per day. Maximum protein was provided in week 3 and equal to 22.9% of patient’s needs.

The gavage solution provided by hospitals can not meet the calorie and protein needs of patients. It is necessary to prepare solutions with enough contents of carbohydrate, lipid and protein or to provide them with standard enteral nutritional solutions.