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Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Early versus delayed enteral nutrition support for burn injuries

Overview of attention for article published in Cochrane database of systematic reviews, July 2006
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Title
Early versus delayed enteral nutrition support for burn injuries
Published in
Cochrane database of systematic reviews, July 2006
DOI 10.1002/14651858.cd005489.pub2
Pubmed ID
Authors

Wasiak, Jason, Cleland, Heather, Jeffery, Rachel, Wasiak, J, Cleland, H, Jeffery, R

Abstract

A burn injury increases the body's metabolic demands, and therefore nutritional requirements. Provision of an adequate supply of nutrients is believed to lower the incidence of metabolic abnormalities, thus reducing septic morbidity, improving survival rates, and decreasing hospital length of stay. Enteral nutrition support is the best feeding method for patients who are unable to achieve an adequate oral intake to maintain gastrointestinal functioning, however, its timing (i.e. early versus late) needs to be established. To assess the effectiveness and safety of early versus late enteral nutrition support in adults with burn injury. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, issue 1, 2006), the Cochrane Injuries Group's Specialised Register, MEDLINE (1966 to May week 1, 2006), EMBASE (1980 to week 17, 2005) and CINAHL (1982 to May week 1, 2006). We included all randomised controlled trials comparing early enteral nutrition support (within 24 hours of injury) versus delayed enteral support (greater than 24 hours). Two authors used standardised forms to independently extract the data. Each trial was assessed for internal validity with differences resolved by discussion. A total of three randomised controlled trials were eligible for inclusion in this review. Results of the studies indicate that evidence about the benefit of early enteral nutritional support on standardised clinical outcomes such as length of hospital stay and mortality, remains inconclusive. Similarly, the question of whether early enteral feeding influenced or decreased metabolic rate as documented in part by our included studies, remains uncertain. This systematic review has not found sufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of early versus late enteral nutrition support in adults with burn injury. The trials showed some promising results that would suggest early enteral nutrition support may blunt the hypermetabolic response to thermal injury, but this is insufficient to provide clear guidelines for practice. Further research incorporating larger sample sizes and rigorous methodology that utilises valid and reliable outcome measures, is essential.

Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 163 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Canada 2 1%
United States 1 <1%
Unknown 160 98%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Master 20 12%
Researcher 19 12%
Student > Bachelor 18 11%
Student > Postgraduate 16 10%
Other 13 8%
Other 37 23%
Unknown 40 25%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 73 45%
Nursing and Health Professions 16 10%
Social Sciences 5 3%
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 3 2%
Psychology 3 2%
Other 11 7%
Unknown 52 32%