The nutritional response to home enteral nutrition in childhood

Abstract

The nutritional response to home enteral nutrition (HEN) was evaluated in a prospective study of 44 consecutive children (median age 48 months) who received HEN for more than 1 month (median duration 6 months). Three groups were studied: 17 children were stunted, 14 were wasted and 13 were adequately nourished but unlikely to maintain oral intake during anticipated nutritional stress. In the stunted group (median duration of HEN 15 months) there was a significant correlation between improvements in height-for-age z scores and duration of feeds (r = 0.63; p = 0.006). In the wasted group (median duration of HEN 4 months) all anthropometric indices improved significantly (p < 0.05). HEN was also successful in maintaining nutritional status in the third group. Thus, supplementary HEN is an effective method of nutritional support for a variety of indications, provided concurrent advice from a nutritional care team is available.

Intensive enteral nutrition support in paediatric bone marrow transplantation

“…[21][22][23] It seemed logical, therefore, that a policy of NG feeding would be continued in the peritransplant period.…”

Nutritional considerations in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation

“…Indications and strategies of nutritional support The nutritional targets of supplementary nutritional support in children undergoing BMT are: (i) correction of wasting, and (ii) maintenance of the nutritional status during chemotherapy (Papadopoulou et al, 1995b). The indications for providing nutritional support are given in Table 2.…”

“…Its role in children with chronic disorders has been studied extensively. It was associated with an arrest in the deterioration of lung function in children with cystic ®brosis (Levy et al, 1985;Shepherd et al, 1986); reduced spasticity in children with cerebral palsy (Patrick et al, 1986); a reduction in the need for surgery in infants with gastro-oesophageal re¯ux (Ferry et al, 1983); better growth in children with Crohn's disease, compared with those given corticosteroids (Belli et al, 1988;Papadopoulou et al, 1995b); and achievement of weight gain in children with congenital heart disease (Bougle et al, 1986) and in children with chronic renal failure (Rees et al, 1989). Furthermore, enteral feeds have a bene®cial effect on gut mucosal barrier function in experimental animals (Inoue et al, 1989), and in humans (Moore et al, 1989).…”

The Management of Paediatric Crohn's Disease: Addressing Unmet Needs

“…Enteral nutrition via nasogastric feeding can reverse growth retardation and significantly improve height and weight [44,45]. In addition, enteral nutrition can actually induce remission and spare the use of corticosteroids [45], although its use as a primary therapy is controversial.…”

“…In addition, enteral nutrition can actually induce remission and spare the use of corticosteroids [45], although its use as a primary therapy is controversial. This was highlighted by a meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness of enteral nutrition and corticosteroids [46].…”