Change in Nutrition Strategy after Nutritional Support Team Activities for Cerebrovascular Disease Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Jin Lee; Sung-Tae Kim; Won Hee Lee; Keun Soo Lee; Sung Hwa Paeng; Se Young Pyo; Young Gyun Jeong; Moo Seong Kim; Yong Tae Jung

doi:10.32587/jnic.2019.00150

J Neurointensive Care > Volume 2(2); 2019 > Article

Lee, Kim, Lee, Lee, Paeng, Pyo, Jeong, Kim, and Jung: Change in Nutrition Strategy after Nutritional Support Team Activities for Cerebrovascular Disease Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Original Article

Journal of Neurointensive Care 2019; 2(2): 39-44.

Published online: August 22, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32587/jnic.2019.00150

Change in Nutrition Strategy after Nutritional Support Team Activities for Cerebrovascular Disease Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Jin Lee, Sung-Tae Kim, Won Hee Lee, Keun Soo Lee, Sung Hwa Paeng, Se Young Pyo, Young Gyun Jeong, Moo Seong Kim, Yong Tae Jung

Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea

Corresponding Author: Sung-Tae Kim, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Neurosurgery Medicine, School of Medicine, Inje University Busan paik Hospital, Bok Ji Ro 75, Busan Jin-Ku, Busan, Korea
Tel:+82-51-890-6144 Fax:+82-51-898-4244 E-mail: kimst015@hanmail.net

Received: June 24, 2019 Accepted: July 8, 2019

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Objective

This study was done to introduce a nutrition support strategy and analyze the effect of nutritional support team (NST) activities in a single-center intensive care unit.

Methods

Between January and June 2017, acute severe cerebrovascular disease (CVA) patients who admitted to the intensive care unit and referred to the NST, were enrolled and assigned to the NST group. Demographics, initial GCS score, needed calorie intake (NCI), type of nutrition, time of switching from parenteral nutrition (PN) to enteral nutrition (EN), NCI satisfaction rate, incidence of feeding intolerance (FI), and clinical outcomes were analyzed, and compared with those in the control group, retrospectively.

Results

There were 38 patients in the NST group and 39 in the control group. The initial GCS score was 7.03±2.19 in the NST group and 6.82±2.19 in the control group. The average NCI was 1557.9 kcal in the NST group and 1635.9 kcal in the control group. In all patients, the start of PN was possible within 24 hours after admission. The EN start rate was slightly lower in the NST group. EN was initiated earlier in the NST group than in the control group. The NCI satisfaction rate at discharge was higher in the NST group. No statistically significant differences were observed in the rate of good clinical outcomes and incidence of FI between the two groups.

Conclusion

NST activity enabled the earlier start of EN and achievement of a high NCI satisfaction rate without increasing nutrition support related risks.

Keywords: Nutritional support; Cerebrovascular disorder; Intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION

Appropriate nutritional support is key to the recovery of patients who are acutely ill or have undergone major surgery. Previous studies have focused to a certain degree on nutrition in the intensive care unit, and guidelines exist for the provision of nutritional support in such settings^2,¹⁸⁾. However, nutritional support strategies should be formulated based on each disease type. Cerebrovascular disease (CVA) is unique in that it is characterized by increased intracranial pressure, which may lead to gut-brain axis dysfunction^10,²²⁾ and normal gastrointestinal tract function. Therefore, it is mandatory to consider such disease characteristics in the provision of nutritional support. However, few studies have focused on nutritional support for CVA^11,²¹⁾.

Recently, our institute established a nutritional support team (NST) that includes neurosurgeons among others, for the active management of CVA patients. Significant changes have been observed in the nutritional support strategies employed after the performance of NST activities. The purpose of this study was to introduce our nutrition support strategy and the nutrition patterns used for CVA patients, and analyze the effect of NST activities in a single-center intensive care unit.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study population

This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (Approval number, 19-0043).This analysis included patients with new-onset severe CVA (initial Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score 4 to 12), who were admitted to the intensive care unit of our institution. Acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent only medical treatment or intra-arterial thrombectomy were excluded. As NST activity was initiated only in 2015, the early years of patient data were not used to consider NST activity optimization. Between January and June 2017, patients who were referred to the NST were enrolled and assigned to the NST group (39 patients). The control group included patients with the same inclusion criteria, but who were enrolled from the period between January and June 2014 (38 patients).

Nutrition support team and strategy

The NST comprised neurosurgeons, general surgeons, dedicated nurses, pharmacists, and clinical dietitians. NST rounds were conducted twice a week, and the physicians alternately attended the round once a week. The needed calorie intake (NCI) was calculated via the Harris-Benedict equation with the ideal weight²⁰⁾. There is no consistent definition for feeding intolerance (FI). Based on previous studies^4,^7,^8,^13-¹⁵⁾, we defined it as the presence of a gastric residual volume of 100 ml>24 h on any day or gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction such as diarrhea, abdominal distention, or signs of GI bleeding in the form of melena, hematochezia, hematemesis and bleeding via the L-tube. The team attempted to initiate PN within 24 hours from admission and then start EN, with 600 kcal as the starting dose, as soon as possible after an intracranial pressure crisis^3,¹⁶⁾. EN and PN were provided in combination until EN covered about 70% of a patient’s NCI. When FI was noticed, the team actively recommended GI motility drug use⁷⁾, changed the EN formula, continuously implemented feeding techniques, and used other nutritional interventions. Once stable oral feeding was established, a 100% NCI satisfaction rate was considered achieved.

Data collection

Data were collected equally from both the NST and control groups. Basic data on sex, age, weight, height, length of hospital stay and main diagnosis were collected. Information on the initial GCS score, NCI, type of nutrition in the form of PN and EN, time taken for PN and EN initiation, pattern of the increase in EN, NCI satisfaction rate, and clinical outcomes was analyzed. Data on FI and surgical interventions (craniotomy, stereotactic surgery, extra-ventricular drainage, neurointervention for aneurysm or arterio-venous malformation) were also collected. Clinical outcomes were measured using the modified Rankin scale (mRS).

Statistical analysis

Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows (version 25; SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). In the statistical analyses, clinical outcomes were dichotomized into ‘good’ (mRS 0 to 4) and ‘poor’ (mRS 5 to 6). Factors related to nutrition were evaluated. Univariate analysis was performed with age, sex, initial GCS score, length of hospital stay, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), surgical intervention, NCI, PN start rate, EN start rate, EN-related parameters, NCI satisfaction rate on discharge, and clinical outcomes as factors using Pearson’s chi-square test, t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Fisher’s exact test. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05 for a 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

The demographic characteristics of the patients are shown in Table 1. There were 38 patients (F/M=17/21, mean age 63.37±13.59 y) in the NST group and 39 patients (F/M=21/18, mean age 65.51±16.78 y) in the control group, and the BMI values in the two groups were 22.48±3.35 kg/m² and 23.43±4.38 kg/m², respectively. The initial GCS score was 7.03±2.19 in the NST group and 6.82±2.19 in the control group. Thirty-one patients (81.6%) in the NST group and 36 (92.3%) in the control group received surgical intervention, and their lengths of hospital stay were 33.16±28.77 and 35.51±27.62 days, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the NST group and control group in each parameter.

Fig. 1 shows the nutrition flow of the two groups. Stroke was divided into three categories. Patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy due to large territory infarction were categorized as cerebral infarction patients, while those with spontaneous intracerebral hematoma (S-ICH) due to hypertensive causes or arteriovenous malformation ruptures were categorized as S-ICH patients. Patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage due to aneurysm rupture were categorized as cerebral aneurysm rupture patients. PN was initiated in all patients in both groups. EN was started in 29 patients in the NST group and 35 patients in the control group. Twenty-six of the 29 patients in the NST group and 15 of the 35 patients in the control group had an EN calorie increase. Six patients in both groups had FI. Twenty-six patients in the NST group and 24 in the control group were eventually discharged while under EN.

Table 2 shows the statistical findings of the feeding-related variables. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of the NCI between the two groups (1,557.89±228.55 vs 1,635.90±447.50 kcal, p= 0.338). In all patients, PN could be initiated within 24 hours after admission. The EN start rate was lower in the NST group (76.3% vs 89.7%, p=0.138). However, EN was initiated earlier in the NST group than in the control group (4.83±1.28 days vs 7.14±5.49 days after admission, p=0.02). In addition, the interval between the start of EN and increase in calories was shorter in the NST group than the control group. (4.91±3.97 vs 17.50±16.69 days, p=0.028)

The EN starting calorie value was similar in both groups (685.7±269 vs 714.3±376 kcal, p=0.736). The NCI satisfaction rate on discharge was higher in the NST group than the control group (81.4%±25.9 vs 56.1%±28.4, p=0.001). The incidence of FI was similar in two groups (20.7% vs 17.1%, p=0.757).

Table 3 shows the differences in the clinical outcomes between the two groups. The NST group had a higher rate of good clinical outcomes (mRS≤ 4) on day 30 after admission (36.8%, 14 patients) than the control group (30.8%, 12 patients); however, statistical significance was not observed (p=0.573).

DISCUSSION

In our study, the NST and control groups had similar patient demographics and basic data, allowing for the easy comparison of the effects of the nutritional feeding activities. In both groups, PN could be initiated within 24 hours after admission. However, on average, EN was initiated faster in the NST group. Furthermore, the EN dose was initially increased later in the control group than the NST group, suggesting that the final NCI satisfaction rate on discharge may have been lower in the control group. Such differences can be attributed to the effects of the NST activities. The EN calorie increase in the control group was decided on by the neurosurgeon in charge. However, different neurosurgeons may have had different nutritional feeding strategies and may also have reacted to FI differently. In the NST group, owing to the presence of standardized strategies and goals, better clinical outcomes may have been possible.

In the NST group, the percentage of patients in whom EN was started was lower than that in the control group. This could be attributed to the patients’ overall condition on admission. EN was intentionally not initiated in patients who were diagnosed as having a low chance of neurological recovery or those in a coma. All such patients died. The rate of good clinical outcomes was higher in the NST group; however, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. This could be because the study had a small sample size and patients’ outcomes do not solely depend on nutrition. The clinical outcomes themselves should be further analyzed in future studies to establish if malnutrition can lead to the more rapid deterioration of health in CVA^6,⁹⁾. Although statistically significant differences in terms of clinical outcomes were not observed in our retrospective study, faster EN initiation, high NCI satisfaction rate and low FI incidence rate in the NST group indicate that the administered NST activities led patients with severe CVA in the right nutritional strategic direction^5,^6,¹⁷⁾.

Despite the NST activities, the NST group patients’ nutritional strategies did not adhere to those mentioned in previous guidelines for ICU patients^2,¹⁸⁾. To reduce the rate of FI, length of ventilation and rate of infections, hypocaloric EN was provided and EN was initiated earlier in the early stages of ICU care in our NST group¹⁸⁾. However, it still took an average of 9 days or longer after admission for half the NCI to be reached, and about 80% of the NCI was eventually obtained via EN in the NST group at discharge. We may have taken FI too seriously compared to other models, leading to such results^7,¹⁵⁾. Compared to another study, the prevalence of FI (17-20%) in our groups showed similar prevalence of FI in neurologic patients, which is lower than that noticed in cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, trauma and sepsis ICU patients⁷⁾. The rate of FI seems to be influenced by a patient’s condition or diagnostic category. The similar results, in terms of FI prevalence, observed in the patients with neurologic impairment may be due to the gut-brain axis; further research should focus on this aspect¹⁾. Even among stroke patients, large territory infarction patients and hemorrhagic stroke patients with slow clinical recovery may need different nutrition strategies compared to stroke patients who undergo intra-arterial thrombectomy with earlier clinical recovery.

The Harris-Benedict equation was used to estimate the energy expenditure in our patients. However, indirect calorimetry seems to be better for the estimation of energy expenditure in critically ill patients¹²⁾; however, at present, its use is limited owing to the associated cost. In clinical practice, it is becoming increasingly common for diverse units comprising hospitalists and intensivists to work with physicians for treatment administration¹⁹⁾. The NST can be considered such a unit, as it strives to establish better treatment policies and achieve improved clinical outcomes. Furthermore, to enhance the role of the NST in the future, diverse nutritional strategies should be applied according to a patient’s condition and diagnostic category.

A multicenter randomized controlled study Optimizing early enteral nutrition in severe stroke (OPENS) is being performed in China²¹⁾. The results of that study and other similar studies must be considered in the formulation of further nutritional support strategies for the ICU.

A limitation of this study is its retrospective design. Therefore, the presence of selection bias and protocol deviations cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, the sample size was small; therefore, the results of the statistical analysis are limited. In addition, this study was single-center design and enrolled only people from Korea. For the establishment of nutrition-related guidelines for CVA patients, well-controlled prospective studies with a large sample size must be conducted.

CONCLUSION

NST activities enabled the earlier start of EN and the achievement of a high NCI satisfaction rate, without an increase in the risk of FI. Well-planned prospective studies are needed to reveal the clinical benefit of active nutritional support for CVA patients.

NOTES

Conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by 2018 Inje University Busan Paik Hospital research grant.

Fig. 1.

Nutrition flow in the two groups of patients with cerebrovascular disease. NST, nutritional support team; S-ICH, spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, AVM, arteriovenous malformation; PN, parenteral nutrition; EN, enteral nutrition.

Table 1.

Demographic characteristics of the nutrition support team group and control group

	Group		p-value
	NST (38)	Control (39)	p-value
Sex, F/M	17/21	21/18	0.424^*
Age (y)	63.37±13.59	65.51±16.78	0.540^†
Weight (kg)	60.87±10.05	63.67±14.86	0.338^†
Height (cm)	164.42±7.94	171.77±48.28	0.357^†
BMI (kg/m²)	22.48±3.35	23.43±4.38	0.291^†
GCS score	7.03±2.19	6.82±2.19	0.681^†
Length of hospital stay	33.16±28.77	35.51±27.62	0.715^†
Surgical intervention (%)	31 (81.6)	36 (92.3)	0.192^‡

NST: nutritional support team; GCS: Glasgow coma scale; F: female; M: male; BMI: body mass index.

^*Pearson’s chi-square test.

^†t-test.

^‡Fisher’s exact test.

Table 2.

Statistically significant differences in the feeding-related variables between the nutritional support team group and control group

	Group		p-value
	NST (38)	Control (39)	p-value
Needed calorie intake	1,557.89±228.55	1,635.90±447.50	0.338^*
PN start (%)	38(100)	39(100)
EN start (%)	29 (76.3)	35 (89.7)	0.138^†
EN start day^†	4.83±1.28	7.14±5.49	0.020^*
EN start oral feeding	3	3
Calories at EN initiation	685.7 ± 269	714.3 ± 376	0.736^*
Patients with EN calorie increase (%)^‡	26 (89.7)	15 (42.9)	0.000^†
Interval between EN start and calorie increase ^§	4.91 ± 3.97	17.50 ± 16.69	0.028^\|\|
Needed calorie intake satisfaction rate on discharge^¶	81.4% ± 25.9	56.1% ± 28.4	0.001^*
Feeding intolerance (%)^**	6 (20.7)	6 (17.1)	0.757^†

NST: nutritional support team; EN: enteral nutrition; PN: parenteral nutrition.

^*t-test.

^†Pearson’s chi-square test.

^‡included in case of oral feeding.

^§Number of patients in each group: NST=23, Control=12.

^||Kruskal-Wallis test.

^¶Number in each group: NST=26, Control=25.

^**Number in each group: NST=29, Control=35.

Table 3.

Clinical outcomes in the nutrition support team group and control group

mRS at 30 days	Group		p-value
mRS at 30 days	NST (38)	Control (39)	p-value
1	1	1
2	1	0
3	3	2
4	9	9
5	13	13
6 (no EN)	11 (9)	14 (4)
Good clinical outcomes mRS≤ 4	14/38	12/39	0.573^*
(%)	-36.8	-30.8	0.573^*

mRS: modified Rankin scale; NST: nutritional support team; EN: enteral nutrition; PN: parenteral nutrition.

^*Pearson’s chi-square test.

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