Effects of the nutritional supply-demand control system ‘NSTManager’ on stroke patients who are unable to orally ingest food

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of our unique nutritional supply-demand control system, Nutrition Support Team Manager (NSTManager), in stroke patients who were unable to orally consume food due to disturbances of consciousness or dysphagia early in their hospitalization. Methods: Acute stroke patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of ≤12 or who had a meal intake of <70% on hospitalization day 3 and who could be observed for 28 consecutive days were included. Nutritional status, energy intake, fasting periods, and adverse gastrointestinal events were evaluated and compared between before (control group, n=30) and after (NSTManager group, n=39) NSTManager introduction. Results: Significant reduction of fasting periods (p=0.00022), adverse gastrointestinal events (p=0.019), and changes in body weight (p=0.032) were noted in the NSTManager group in contrast to the control group. Higher significant energy intake (day 21, p=0.027 and day 28, p=0.019, respectively) were seen in the NSTManager group than in the control group on hospitalization days 21 and 28. Conclusion: Nutritional support using NSTManager was beneficial for patients recovering from strokes.