Effect of early enteral nutrition on intramucosal pH and serum protein in patients with severe head injury.

Abstract

Objective To study the changes of intramucosal pH(pHi) and serum protein levels after early enteral nutrition in patients with severe craniocerebral injury.Methods According to the vital signs and intestinal sounds,enteral nutrition(EN) and parenteral nutrition(PN) were respectively given to the patients 12 to 72 h after operation.The value of pHi was monitored continuously in the following 5 days.Results The value of pHi and serum protein levels increased in both groups on the 5th day after operation(P0.05).Moreover,the value of pHi and serum protein levels of EN group increased more than that of PN group(P0.05).The restoration of anal exhaust time of EN group shortened significantly than that of PN group(P0.05).Conclusion The use of early enteral nutrition can improve the blood perfusion and oxygenation of gastrointestinal mucosae as well as the nutritional status in severe craniocerebral injury patients.