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Nutritional support in 111 pediatric intensive care units: a European survey

  • Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

To study current strategies in nutritional management of pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Europe, focusing on energy requirements.

Design and setting

Survey by a 35-item questionnaire sent to representatives of 242 PICUs in 28 countries. Addresses were obtained from national PICU associations and the members’ list of the European Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care.

Participants

Staff members of 111 European PICUs (46%) from 24 countries.

Measurements and results

Predominantly physicians were reported to be responsible for nutritional support. In 73% of PICUs a multidisciplinary nutritional team was available. In most PICUs daily energy requirements were estimated using weight, age, predictive equations and correction factors. In 17% of PICUs energy expenditure was regularly measured by indirect calorimetry. Nutritional status was mostly assessed by weight, physical examination, and a wide range of biochemical blood parameters. Approximately 70% of PICUs used dedicated software for nutritional support. A similar percentage of PICUs regarded “nutrition” as a research topic and part of the residents’ training program.

Conclusions

Most European PICUs regard nutritional support as an important aspect of patient care, as shown by the presence of nutritional teams, software, research, and education. However, energy requirements of pediatric intensive care patient were based predominantly on estimations rather than on measurements.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the European Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care for providing their membership database, and all physicians who participated in our survey. We thank Hanneke Schaapherder for compiling the SPSS database of all responses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Martijn van der Kuip, Michiel J. S. Oosterveld, K. de Meer, Harry N. Lafeber & Reinoud J. B. J. Gemke

  2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Marian A. E. van Bokhorst–de van der Schueren

Authors
  1. Martijn van der Kuip
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  2. Michiel J. S. Oosterveld
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  3. Marian A. E. van Bokhorst–de van der Schueren
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  4. K. de Meer
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  5. Harry N. Lafeber
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  6. Reinoud J. B. J. Gemke
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reinoud J. B. J. Gemke.

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van der Kuip, M., Oosterveld, M.J.S., van Bokhorst–de van der Schueren, M.A.E. et al. Nutritional support in 111 pediatric intensive care units: a European survey. Intensive Care Med 30, 1807–1813 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-004-2356-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-004-2356-8

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