Complications and Costs of Early Postoperative Parenteral Versus Enteral Nutrition in Trauma Patients

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to compare the complications and costs of early postoperative parenteral and enteral nutrition in trauma patients. The research plan was to review the relevant prospective, randomized, clinical trials comparing parenteral with enteral nutrition in trauma patients. Data were pooled and analyzed for infectious and gastrointestinal complications reported in the trials. Economic costs were used to evaluate the therapeutic expense associated with each route of nutrition support. The results indicated that parenteral nutrition has greater infectious complications and greater associated therapeutic costs than enteral nutrition and thus should be used only in cases in which it is truly indicated.

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