Background and Purpose: We examined the effect of early enteral immunonutrition (EEIN) on various clinical parameters and outcomes in acute stroke critical patients. Methods: Acute stroke patients with impaired consciousness were enrolled for the study. The patients were divided into three groups; 54 patients admitted in July 2004–March 2007 before starting early enteral nutrition (EEN) practice, as the control group; 53 in October 2009–March 2011 with EEN, as group A; and 53 in January 2013–March 2014 with EEIN, as group B. They were retrospectively assessed for fecal property, rate of infectious complication including pneumonia, in-hospital periods, and 3-month clinical outcomes. Results: Compared to the control group, groups A and B had significantly shorter median fasting periods (control; 8.7 days, A; 1.5 days, B; 1.8 days), more favorable nutritional status, enteral environment aggravation (watery diarrhea) rates (control; 42.6%, A; 1.9%, B; 1.9%), lower infectious complication rates (control; 85.2%, A; 66.0%, B; 35.8%), lower pneumonia rates (control; 74.1%, A; 50.9%, B; 15.1%), lower amounts (dosage days per patient) of antibiotic agents (control; 14.8 days, A; 9.2 days, B; 3.3 days), shorter median in-hospital periods (control; 30.5 days, A; 23.0 days, B; 23.0 days), and more favorable 3-month mortality rates (control; 20.4%, A; 3.8%, B; 1.9%). Group B showed significantly lower incidence of infection (pneumonia) than group A. Conclusions: EEN in the acute phase of a stroke can translate into improved clinical outcomes. It is also suggested that EEIN could minimize the risk of infectious complications such as pneumonia.
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