Abstract
Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a clinical path for early enteral nutrition in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation in an open-system ICU. Methods: We performed a retrospective study to compare 48 patients to whom the clinical path was applied (Path group) with 40 patients who received enteral nutrition before the start of the application of the path (Control group). Results: The median time from the start of mechanical ventilation to the initiation of enteral nutrition was significantly reduced in the Path group as compared with that in the Control group (median, 22 vs. 45 hours; P = 0.03). The incidence of diarrhea and vomiting did not increase in the Path group. There was no significant difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation and in-hospital mortality between the two groups. Conclusion: Early enteral nutrition in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation was achieved with a clinical path for enteral nutrition in an open-system ICU, without increasing gastrointestinal complications.
