Evaluación clínica del uso de nutrición enteral domiciliaria en pacientes pediátricos

Abstract

Enteral nutrition (EN) is the delivery of nutrients to the gastrointestinal tract by nasogastric (SNG), nasojejunal (SNY) or gastrostomy (GTT), being the preferred route to fulfill nutritional needs when the oral route is contraindicated or inadequate. Objective: To describe the clinical profile of pediatric patients with home EN and to assess their nutritional status. Subjects and methods: A retrospective analytic study, in 37 children from the Pediatric Service Hospital Clinico UC, discharged with enteral nutrition support from April 2010 to April 2011. Results: The main indication to use EN was swallowing disorder (n=27). 73% began EN before one year of life. GTT was the principal route to EN (n=20). There were no complications associated to NGT or OGT. The reported complications associated with GTT were periosteal granuloma (n=7), aspiration pneumonia (n=3) and accidental removal (n=1). 62% of patients had protein-calorie malnutrition (z-score W/H) at baseline vs. 30% at the last control (p<0,001). Conclusion: The use of enteral nutrition allows to restore and/ or to maintain nutritional status in children with swallowing disorder or undernutrition. This feeding procedure also improves the quality of life and promotes a proper development without major complications.