PEP uP Protocol in Surgical Patients

PEP uP Protocol (Enhanced Protein-Energy Provision Via the Enteral roUte Feeding Protocol) in Surgical Patients

The main objective of this project is to asses for safety, feasibility and effectiveness of an aggressive feeding protocol, PEP uP (Enhanced Protein-Energy Provision via the Enteral Route Feeding Protocol) in increasing protein and energy delivery to critically ill surgical patients. Our hypothesis is that an aggressive feeding protocol, PEP uP will be safe, acceptable, and effectively increase protein and energy delivery to critically ill surgical patients.

Gross underfeeding or iatrogenic malnutrition is prevalent in intensive care units throughout the world. Critically ill patients only receive, on average, 40-50% of their prescribed nutritional requirements. Inadequate provision of nutrition to these patients is associated with increased complications, prolonged length of stay in the ICU and hospital, and increased mortality. There are good data from large scale observational studies and randomized trials that suggest better fed patients have better clinical and economic outcomes and there are ICUs that consistently reach an average of 80-90% nutritional adequacy (amount of nutrition received over amount prescribed) thus it appears to be a feasible goal. The PEP uP protocol (Enhanced Protein-Energy Provision via the Enteral Route Feeding Protocol) includes a new, innovative approach that protocolizes an aggressive set of strategies to providing enteral nutrition (EN) and shifts the paradigm from reactionary to proactive followed by de-escalation if nutrition therapy is not needed. The key components of this new PEP uP protocol are the following: Starting feeds at the target rate based on increasing evidence that some patients tolerate starting nutrition at a higher rate of delivery and that slow start ups are not necessary. Allowing "trophic feeds" a low volume of a concentrated feeding solution for 24 hours or longer, designed to maintain gastrointestinal structure and function for those patients who are deemed unsuitable for high volume intragastric feeds. Prescribing semi-elemental feeding solution instead of a standard polymeric solution. These can then be changed to more traditional polymeric solution once the patient is tolerating adequate amounts of nutrition. Prescribing protein supplements at initiation of EN and then discontinue if EN is well tolerated and protein requirement are met through their standard EN. Starting motility agents at the same time EN is started with a re-evaluation in the days following to see if it is necessary. This PEP uP protocol has been previously studied in two published studies enrolling primarily medical patients. In the first study, a pilot before and after trial, the protocol seemed to be feasible, safe, and acceptable to critical care nurses. No incidents compromising patient safety were observed. (Heyland 2010) Rates of vomiting, regurgitation, aspiration, and pneumonia were similar and the PEP uP group received significantly more energy and protein (when they were prescribed to receive full volume as opposed to "trophic"). A subsequent multi-center cluster randomized trial involving low-performing ICUs likewise demonstrated that intervention sites had improvements in energy and protein delivery as well as a decrease in average time from ICU admission to start of enteral nutrition compared to the control group. (Heyland 2013).

feeding protocol, enteral nutrition protocol, critically ill, surgical ICU, enteral nutrition, nutrition therapy

Participants will receive the PEP uP protocol with the pro motility agent. The intervention will be provided until the tube feeds are stopped or patient is fed meals orally and will be tracked until hospital discharge or 60 days which ever occur first.

Standard formula polymeric tube feeds started at a rate of 20 ml/hour. Gastric residual volume (GRV) will be checked every 4 hours. GRV is reinfused to the patient each time it is checked. GRV threshold is 200-500 ml. If the patient is tolerating tube feeds as determined by measuring the GRV, the rate is advanced by 20 ml/hour every 4 hours up to the goal rate. Participants will be followed until the tube feeds are stopped or patient is fed meals orally and will be tracked until hospital discharge or 60 days which ever occur first.

Semi-elemental tube feeds are started at the hourly goal rate as determined by the 24 hour volume goal. Protein supplements will be started at the initiation of tube feeds to target a daily delivery of 2 g/kg/day.

Metoclopramide 10mg Intravenous (IV) every 6 hours (q6h) or 5mg IV q6h for renal failure will be started empirically concomitant with EN initiation. Gastric Residual Volume (GRV) will be checked every 4 hours and will be reinfused to the patient each time it is checked.

The total amount of protein received from either EN or parenteral nutrition (PN), inclusive of propofol, divided by the amount prescribed as per the baseline assessment and expressed as a percentage.

The total amount of energy received from either EN or parenteral nutrition (PN), inclusive of propofol, divided by the amount prescribed as per the baseline assessment and expressed as a percentage.

Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥ 18 years ICU admission within past 48 hours Initiation of tube feeds currently planned by the surgical ICU (SICU) team and primary surgical team Admitted by a surgical service to the SICU (not a medical ICU or neurology patient) Expected to remain mechanically ventilated for > 24 h and expected to require ICU care for > 72 h after screening Exclusion Criteria: Pregnancy Attending surgeon preference (they must agree to feeding their patient according to the protocol in either arm using the goal rate determined by the SICU team and the nutritionist) Contraindication to enteral nutrition (bowel obstruction, bowel discontinuity, proximal enterocutaneous fistula, and short gut syndrome) Do not resuscitate (DNR) status or goals of care that specify limitations in medical therapies Death expected within 24 hours

Heyland DK, Cahill NE, Dhaliwal R, Wang M, Day AG, Alenzi A, Aris F, Muscedere J, Drover JW, McClave SA. Enhanced protein-energy provision via the enteral route in critically ill patients: a single center feasibility trial of the PEP uP protocol. Crit Care. 2010;14(2):R78. doi: 10.1186/cc8991. Epub 2010 Apr 29.

Heyland DK, Murch L, Cahill N, McCall M, Muscedere J, Stelfox HT, Bray T, Tanguay T, Jiang X, Day AG. Enhanced protein-energy provision via the enteral route feeding protocol in critically ill patients: results of a cluster randomized trial. Crit Care Med. 2013 Dec;41(12):2743-53. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e31829efef5.

Heyland DK, Dhaliwal R, Lemieux M, Wang M, Day AG. Implementing the PEP uP Protocol in Critical Care Units in Canada: Results of a Multicenter, Quality Improvement Study. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2015 Aug;39(6):698-706. doi: 10.1177/0148607114531787. Epub 2014 Apr 18.

McCall M, Cahill N, Murch L, Sinuff T, Bray T, Tanguay T, Heyland DK. Lessons Learned From Implementing a Novel Feeding Protocol: Results of a Multicenter Evaluation of Educational Strategies. Nutr Clin Pract. 2014 Aug;29(4):510-517. doi: 10.1177/0884533614531047. Epub 2014 Apr 22.