Effects of intermittent oro-esophageal tube feeding on functional recovery from severe brain injury / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the effect of intermittent oro-esphageal tube feeding (IOE) on functional recovery from severe brain injury complicated by tracheotomy.Methods:A total of 98 patients with severe brain injury and tracheotomy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. All received neurotrophic and anti-infection medication, physical therapy, acupuncture and exercise. The observation group was also given intermittent oro-esophageal tube feeding, while the control group was given nasogastric tube feeding for 4 weeks. Before and after the treatment, each patient′s nutritional status, extubation time and extubation rate of the tracheotomy, and Glasgow Coma Scale score was evaluated as well as the incidence of complications.Results:After the 4 weeks the average hemoglobin, albumin and pre-albumin levels of the observation group and its average body mass index were all significantly better than the control group′s averages. It also had a significantly better overall incidence of complications, average extubation rate, average extubation duration and average GCS score.Conclusions:Where feasible, intermittent oro-esphageal tube feeding is superior to nasogastric tube feeding for improving the nutritional status and consciousness level of patients with severe brain injury. It promotes early removal of the tracheotomy cannula, which inhibits complications.