The role of early enteral nutrition in burnt and multiple trauma patients. Similarities and differences.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Early Enteral Nutrition (EEN) in burnt and multiple trauma patients. Material-Method Si patients with burns >25% of the total body surface area and 35 patients with more than two traumas were included in our study. A nutritional support protocol was followed. Blood markers and the general condition of patients were assessed for the role of EEN. Results In burnt patients, total proteins, serum albumin and serum globulin were increased significantly between all measurements. In multiple trauma patients total proteins and serum globulin were increased significantly between the 1st and 3rd measurement (PcO.OOl). Serum albumin was slightly decreased between the 1st and 3rd measurement (P=0.350). For burnt patients, between the 1st and 3rd measurement, Fe was increased (P<0.008) and for multiple trauma it was slightly increased. For burnt patients TIBC was increased (P<0.001) and for multiple trauma patients was slightly decreased. There were no significant changes in the absolute number of lymphocytes neither in immunoglobulin-lgA, IgM, IgG for both patients groups. The mean serum albumin value of the burnt patient was significantly increased compared with the multiple trauma patients (P=0.012). The mean serum globulin value of the multiple trauma patients was significantly increased compared with the burnt patients (P=0.019). TIBC did not increased between groups in the 1st and 2nd measurements, but it was significantly increased in the 3rd measurement in burnt patients compared with the multiple trauma patients (P=0.005). The mean value of immunoglobulin IgG showed a significant increase in multiple trauma patients compared with the burnt patients (P=0.006). Conclusions Generally, the results of our study confirm the effectiveness of EEN in both groups of patients as well as the existence of similarities and differences.

Keywords: Role oh early enteral nutrition, nutritional markers (total proteins, blood albumin, globulin, absolute number oh lymphocytes, immunoglobulin- lgA, IgM, IgG, Fe (iron) and TIBC-Total Iron Binding Capacity)