PURPOSE: Knowledge of nutritional support and attitudes of medical staff both affect patient care. We identified attitudes regarding nutritional support among medical staff as well as changes in attitudes when a nutritional support team is present. METHODS: Data were collected from 172 medical staff members who served at a university hospital located in Gyeongju by self-administered questionnaire from June 12~August 30, 2013. The questionnaire inquired about importance of nutritional support, self-confidence about nutritional support, consideration of nutritional support for patient care, consideration of nutritional support when a nutritional support team is present, and nutritional knowledge training during the past year. RESULTS: A total of 169 subjects (98.3%) thought that nutritional support is important for patient care. Only 19 subjects (11.0%) were highly self-confident about nutritional support. In total, 147 subjects (85.5%) considered nutritional support for some or all patients, whereas 169 (98.3%) considered nutritional support for patient care when a nutritional support team is present. Thirty-eight subjects (22.1%) received nutritional knowledge training during the past year. High self-confidence for nutritional support was related to nutritional knowledge training and service part. Positive changes regarding nutritional support when a nutritional support team is present were associated with nutritional knowledge training and high self-confidence for nutritional support. CONCLUSION: No differences in nutritional support attitudes for patient care were observed among the medical staff. Nutritional knowledge training and service part affected self-confidence of nutritional support and induced positive changes in attitudes for nutritional support.
Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Medical Staff* ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support* ; Patient Care* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Gastric cancer surgery is expected to increase in frequency in elderly patients aged over 65 years. The aim of this study was to validate the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and percent weight loss as a predictor of post-operative complications after gastrectomy in elderly patients. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data on elderly patients (over 65 years) who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center between January 2010 and December 2012. Data included patientsocharacteristics (body mass index [BMI], underlying disease, body weight loss during 3 months before gastrectomy, American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] score, and stage of disease), operative characteristics (operation method, operation time, and blood loss during operation), GNRI, and post-operative complications after gastrectomy. RESULTS: A total of 321 patients were included. The patients'mean age was 72.4+/-4.7 years, and 49.5% of patients were rated as being at risk by the GNRI. There were no differences in post-operative complications by GNRI, age, sex, ASA score, BMI, serum albumin, co-morbidity, stage of disease, surgical approach, type of surgery, extent of lymph node dissection, operation time, or blood loss during surgery. However, percent weight loss during 3 months was correlated independently with post-operative complications (P<0.001). In logistic regression analysis, a 1% increase in percent weight loss was associated with a 1.102 times increase in the incidence of postoperative complications (P=0.012, 95% confidence interval 1.021~1.189). CONCLUSION: The percent weight loss during 3 months before gastrectomy could help predict post-operative complications in elderly patients.
Aged* ; Body Weight ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Lymph Node Excision ; Malnutrition ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Weight Loss*

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized elderly Korean patients using Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) in Korea. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multi-center study was performed. We enrolled 300 patients aged > or =65 years from 10 hospitals. We collected subjects' general characteristics, including age, sex, height, weight, and diagnosis. Patients' nutritional status was assessed using MNA-SF within 48 hours since hospital admission. RESULTS: The subjects were 74.2+/-6.3 years old, and 155 patients were male (51.7%). Cancer was the most common diagnosis (26.3%), followed by musculoskeletal (11.3%), neuromuscular (10.3%), pulmonary (9.0%), and cardiovascular disease (8.7%). The length of hospital stay was 8.7+/-5.9 days. According to MNA-SF, 99 patients (33.0%) were at risk of malnutrition, and 51 patients (17.0%) were malnourished. MNA-SF score showed negative correlations with age (r=-0.259, P<0.001) and hospital stay (r=-0.168, P=0.006). Patients in the malnourished or at risk of malnutrition groups were more likely to be admitted to and stayed longer in the intensive care unit (ICU) than those of normal nutritional status (8.7% vs. 17.3%, P=0.026; 1.6+/-1.0 days vs. 3.7+/-3.2 days, P=0.033). The patients who were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition were hospitalized significantly longer than those of normal nutritional status (9.8+/-6.2 vs. 7.7.+/-5.4 days, P=0.004). After adjusting for age and ICU admission, nutritional status by MNA-SF was the only risk factor for prolonged hospitalization (beta=1.384, P=0.005). CONCLUSION: About half of hospitalized elderly patients were at risk of malnutrition or malnutrition status at admission, and nutritional status was the only risk factor for longer hospital stay. Thus, more attention should be paid to the nutritional care of elderly patients to improve clinical outcomes.
Aged* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Malnutrition* ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) develops in infants and children with inadequate small intestine for digestion and absorption of enteral nutrients for normal growth and development. This can lead to malabsorption of macronutrients or micronutrients, electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, malnutrition, and growth failure. The goals of nutrition support in pediatric SBS are to promote intestinal adaptation, avoid complications associated with intestinal resection and parenteral nutrition (PN), and, ultimately, maintain normal growth. In the initial phase of SBS, PN support is important in order to meet energy requirements and for avoidance of electrolyte imbalance or dehydration. Enteral nutrition should be initiated as soon as possible after bowel resection in order to promote intestinal adaptation. In order to stimulate oral motor activity and to avoid feeding aversion behavior, tolerable volumes of bottle-feeding or solid food should be accepted. In addition, feeding volume might be gradually increased in small amounts with monitoring of stool quantity and consistency. Because not all enterally administered calories are absorbed, PN should not be decreased isocalorically against enteral nutrition. In order to enhance bowel adaptation by maximizing nutrient delivery, it is necessary to determine the potential advantages of administration mode, continuous vs. bolus feeding, and what formula should be considered, polymeric vs. monomeric or oligomeric formula. Optimal enteral feeding regimen for pediatric SBS is still being debated, how to feed or what to feed, therefore, nutritional management of SBS should be adjusted according to the patient's medical condition.
Absorption ; Child ; Dehydration ; Digestion ; Enteral Nutrition ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestine, Small ; Malnutrition ; Micronutrients ; Motor Activity ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Polymers ; Short Bowel Syndrome*

Physiological changes associated with aging affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs and thus therapeutic outcomes. These changes may be further amplified by interactions with nutrients. The purpose of this review was to summarize drug-nutrient interactions found in elderly patients. Mechanisms of the interactions can be categorized as ex vivo bio-inactivations, interactions in absorption and elimination phases, and physiological interactions. The goal of enteral nutrition (EN) is to maximize the therapeutic response of medication without adversely affecting EN tolerance. Therefore, to ensure safety, consistent monitoring is necessary for enteral feeding of patients receiving medication via an enteral tube. Elderly patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) are often treated concomitantly with medication via the parenteral route. The stability and compatibility of PN formulations infused with other additives, including medication, may be influenced. Limitation of the number of prescriptions to essential medications only during the minimum period along with periodic re-evaluations of the treatment are thus necessary to minimize undesirable drug-nutrient interactions in elderly patients.
Absorption ; Aged* ; Aging ; Enteral Nutrition ; Food-Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Prescriptions

A 69-year-old man was consulted to our Home Health Care department for home parenteral enteral nutrition. He was diagnosed with Kennedy disease. He had swallowing difficulty and bowel ischemia. We provided nutritional support in a variety of ways in order to suit his condition. The role of the home care nurse involves training methods depending on changes in the nutritional support to patient and care giver. However, in the case of Kennedy disease, increasing the target patient's nutritional requirements as calculated was difficult.
Aged ; Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked* ; Caregivers ; Deglutition ; Delivery of Health Care ; Enteral Nutrition* ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Nutritional Requirements ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition

PURPOSE: IV-lipid emulsion can be a nutritional supplement to provide essential fatty acids and energy for patients who need total parenteral nutrition support. The recommended administration dose of lipid emulsion is less than 2.5 g/kg/d and the rate should not exceed 0.15 g/kg/h for adult patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the adequacy of the currently prescribed administration rate of IV-lipid emulsion in a single center. METHODS: We analyzed 1,739 lipid emulsion administration prescriptions in 1,095 patients over 18 years old at Ajou University Hospital from January 1, 2014 to March 31. RESULTS: The median prescription rate of total lipid emulsion was 0.134 (0.012~1.125) g/kg/h, and the exceeding portion of maximum recommended infusion rate was 36.9%. The median administration prescription rate of lipid emulsion was faster in 500 mL emulsions, compared to 250 mL emulsion (0.146 g/kg/h vs. 0.075 g/kg/h; P<0.001) and at emergency room (ER), compared to general ward (0.154 g/kg/h vs. 0.123; P<0.001). The exceeding portion of maximum recommended infusion rate of lipid emulsion was also higher in 500 mL emulsion, compared to 250 mL emulsion (52.2% vs. 30.4%; P<0.001) and at ER, compared to general ward (52.1% vs. 30.4%; P<0.001). Triglyceride level was higher in exceeding recommended infusion rate compared to less, but not statistically significant (119 mg/dL vs. 261 mg/dL; P=0.202). CONCLUSION: Administration prescription rate of lipid emulsion exceeded the recommended rate and this feature was dominant in 500 mL emulsion and at ER. Education and monitoring of lipid emulsion prescription is needed for appropriate lipid administration and prevention of fat overload syndrome.
Adult ; Education ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Emulsions ; Fatty Acids, Essential ; Humans ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Patients' Rooms ; Prescriptions* ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: Intestinal failure (IF) is a complex clinical condition requiring a multi-disciplinary team approach. Our objective was to set up the treatment protocols and education documents for IF patients for development of intestinal rehabilitation programs in our hospital. METHODS: We compared the number of inpatients, length of hospital stay, mode of nutrition and calorie supply at discharge, and the frequency of blood transfusions before and after quality improvement of multidisciplinary activities, in order to evaluate the indirect effects of new protocols and training materials and for development of the intestinal rehabilitation system. RESULTS: We integrated eleven protocols for treatment and monitoring and seven educational materials for patients and caregivers. We compared indirect effects before and after the quality improvement activities. The number of IF patients hospitalized was reduced from 12 to 9. The mean days of hospital stay was decreased from 322 days to 73 days, the average number of monthly blood transfusions was also reduced from 1.8 to 0.3. In addition, the percentage of patients administered enteral nutrition and calories supplied was increased at discharge. CONCLUSION: By integrating IF protocols and education materials for IF patients, we found possible indirect effects of intestinal rehabilitation using a multidisciplinary team approach.
Blood Transfusion ; Caregivers ; Clinical Protocols ; Education ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Length of Stay ; Quality Improvement* ; Rehabilitation*

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of enteral nutrition for patients with anastomotic leakage after gastric cancer surgery is controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare effectiveness between combined enteral nutrition with parenteral nutrition (EPN) and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). METHODS: Patients who underwent gastric cancer surgery for primary gastric cancer from April 2010 to August 2012 were reviewed. Clinicopathologic characteristics, complication, laboratory tests, and body weight (Bwt) were compared between EPN and PN. RESULTS: Among patients with postoperative leakage within postoperative 1 month (n=43), 13 patients were supported by EPN and 23 patients by TPN. Clinicopathologic characteristics, including preoperative Bwt, body mass index, nutritional status, other complications, and TNM stage were similar. Preoperative serum albumin and Bwt were similar between EPN and TPN. However, after 1 week of nutritional support, albumin at EPN was significantly higher than that of PN (3.52+/-0.3 and 3.25+/-0.3; P=0.010). Adjusted by preoperative Bwt, preoperative nutritional status, and difference in Bwt between preoperative and pre-nutritional support period, decrease of Bwt between pre-nutritional support and discharge was significantly less at EPN than at TPN (-4.5+/-5.4% and -6.3+/-4.1%; P=0.001). CONCLUSION: In terms of the maintenance of serum albumin and Bwt during nutritional support, EPN may be a better supportive option than TPN for patients with anastomotic leakage after gastric cancer surgery.
Anastomotic Leak* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Enteral Nutrition ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition* ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Serum Albumin ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Impaired gastrointestinal (GI) motility is extremely common in the intensive care unit (ICU), affecting up to 50% of mechanically ventilated patients and up to 80% of patients with traumatic brain injury. This includes disturbances in esophageal, gastric, small intestinal, and colonic function; alone or in combination. Impaired upper GI motility can lead to reflux, aspiration, vomiting, high gastric residuals, and interruptions in enteral nutrition. In critically ill patients, prolonged constipation may cause delayed weaning from mechanical ventilation, lengthened ICU stay, and inability to take in enteral nutrition; at least one study has suggested an association between delayed defecation and both increased bacterial infections and mortality. Drugs used for analgesia and sedation are commonly associated with impaired gastric and small intestinal motility in critically ill patients. Drugs frequently impair gastric motility via one or more mechanisms, and the precise mechanisms of drug-induced hypomotility are often unknown. Therefore, measures to prevent drug-induced motility disturbances include correction of fluid and electrolyte imbalances, early enteral feeding, and judicious use of drugs known to alter motility. Prokinetic agents are currently the mainstay of therapy for impaired GI motility in the critically ill. Of the available prokinetic agents, current information, while limited, suggests that erythromycin or metoclopramide (alone or in combination) are effective in management of feeding intolerance for the critically ill in terms of evidence-based practice. Based on the current evidence evaluating the adverse effects of prokinetic agents in critical illnesses and the lack of prokinetic agents with a safer adverse effect profile, the ongoing need for prokinetic drugs in these patients should be reviewed daily in order to minimize avoidable adverse effects.
Analgesia ; Bacterial Infections ; Brain Injuries ; Colon ; Constipation ; Critical Illness* ; Defecation ; Enteral Nutrition ; Erythromycin ; Evidence-Based Practice ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Metoclopramide ; Mortality ; Respiration, Artificial ; Vomiting ; Weaning