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Safety of Enteral Feeding in Patients With Open Abdomen, Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed, and Perforation Peritonitis
Author(s) -
Guillaume Alexandra,
Seres David S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
nutrition in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1941-2452
pISSN - 0884-5336
DOI - 10.1177/0884533612450919
Subject(s) - medicine , enteral administration , perforation , peritonitis , bleed , abdomen , gastroenterology , surgery , general surgery , parenteral nutrition , materials science , punching , metallurgy
Provision of enteral nutrition (EN) has historically been withheld after major abdominal operations until bowel activity returns. Evidence suggests that EN is safe in critically ill patients with a variety of illnesses, specifically after abdominal surgery. There is a strong association between poor nutrition status and worse outcomes in critically ill patients. The fear has been that EN, by virtue of increased luminal pressure or demand to the splanchnic circulation, may compromise the integrity of anastomotic repairs and place patients at risk for complications. In this review, the authors analyze the safety of EN in the setting of the open abdomen, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and perforation peritonitis, with evidence from published clinical trials and meta‐analyses.