Comparison of dietary intake and dietary requirement in post operative adult cardiac surgical patients in ICU

ABSTRACT

To estimate optimum energy and protein intake and to examine the differences in actual intake versus optimum protein and energy requirement during first three days of patients at surgical ITC of AFIC. A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted by using purposive sampling technique. One hundred patients admitted in adult ITC of Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases between periods of 10[th] July to 10[th] December 2013, fulfilling study criteria were included in study sample. Data was collected from hospital records [bedside charts] and food frequency questionnaire [FFQ]. Protein and energy intake on 1[st], 2[nd] and 3[rd] post operative day was calculated and compared with pre- calculated optimum protein and caloric requirement. Mean caloric intake on 1[st] post operative day was 583 k/cal, on 2[nd] post operative day 679 kcal and on 3[rd] post operative day was 820 k/cal which were 70%, 65% and 68% respectively less than the optimum requirement. Whereas mean protein intake was 13 grams on the 1[st] post operative day and 13.2 and 22.3 grams on the 2[nd] and 3[rd] day respectively which was 85%, 83% and 72% less respectively on first, second and third post operative day. The results suggest that the energy and protein intake of patients was below estimated requirements. Attention must be paid to malnutrition and nutrition in general in the hospital wards