The potential of early enteral nutrition in cardiac surgery

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of standard solution for enteral nutrition (1 kcal/ml) and immune solution for enteral nutrition (1.3 kcal/ml, rich with glutamine) for early enteral nutrition of cardiac surgery patients with acute heart failure syndrome. Prospective randomized study of 40 patients (20 in standard group and 20 in immune group). Plasma concentrations of prealbumin and transferrin were analyzed at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days. Plasma prealbumin was significantly higher at 14 day after surgery in immune group (0.13±0.01 and 0.21 ±0.1 g/l; р = 0.04). Transferrin was significantly higher in immune group on the 5 day (1.21 ±0.33 and 1.85±0.24 g/l; р = 0.0002), 7 day (1.28±0.39 and 1.75±0.37 g/l; р = 0.018) and 14 day (1.58±0.47 and 2.07±0.46 g/l; р = 0.044). Thus, results of study indicated on benefits of hypercaloric solution for enteral feeding enriched with glutamine in compare with standard isocaloric solution for early enteral nutrition of cardiac patients with acute heart failure.