nutritional management of traumatic brain injury

Nutritional Management of Traumatic Brain

Injury

Melissa Wolynec

Aramark Dietetic Intern

February 13, 2012

The Patient

• 24 year old male• Admitted to ICU status post assault• Intoxicated upon admission• Intubated for airway protection and

combativeness• NG tube in place• Propofol drip for sedation

The Patient Medically• Bilateral frontal contusions• Subarachnoid hemorrhage• Left temporal contusions• Swelling of brain

• Monitored with

daily CT scans

Patient History

• No previous medical history• Alcohol user

• No drug or tobacco use

• Appeared well nourished, stable weight

• Appetite prior to admission unknown• No home medications

Patient Weight

• Admission Weight: 71.1 kg• BMI: 20.6• 86% IBW

Patient Nutrient Needs

• Penn State Critical Non-Obese Formula• Stress Factors 1.2 – 1.4

• 2,381 to 2,778 kcal• 104 to 139 gm protein (1.5 to 2.0 gm/kg)• 2,079 to 2,772 mL fluid

• Fed via NG tube using Glucerna 1.5

The Injury – Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Sudden trauma causing damage to brain• Head violently hits object• Bump, blow, jolt, fall

• Object pierces through skill into brain • Bullet

• May experience loss of consciousness or coma

The Injury, Contd.

• Mild TBI• Temporary dysfunction of brain cells

• Serious TBI• Bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, physical

damages to brain

Symptoms of Severe TBI

Symptoms

Increase in Sleep

Loss of Bladder Control

Slurred Speech

Agitation / Combativeness

Weakness / Numbness

Seizures

Dilated Pupils

Clear Liquid from Ears or

Nose

Complications

TBI

Attention

Memory

Extremity Weakness

Impaired coordination and balance

Hearing and vision loss

Impaired perception and touch

Depression, Anxiety

Primary vs. Secondary Damage

• Primary Damage• Intracranial hypertension• Increased cerebrospinal fluid

• Secondary Damage• Brain swelling• Damage to brain cells

About TBI

• Ebb, or Initial Phase• Peaks at 48 to 72 hours• Subsides after 3 to 4 days• Decreased metabolism, temperature,

cardiac output, energy expenditure

• Flow, or Secondary Phase• Increased metabolism and catabolism• Last few days to few weeks

Metabolic Alterations

• Hormonal changes• Release of cortisol, epinephrine and

norepinephrine

• Changes in cellular metabolism• Increased energy expenditure, oxygen

consumption

• Cerebral and Systemic Inflammatory Response• Swelling

Metabolic Alterations Contd.

• Increased• Basal Metabolism• Oxygen Consumption• Glycogenolysis• Hyperglycemia

• Results in muscle wasting

Evidenced Based Nutrition – Early Nutrition

• Database, 24 Level I and II trauma centers• Arrival 24 hours after injury• Glasgow Coma Score (GSC) < 9

• Exclusions:• Subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to

aneurysm or stroke• GCS 3-4• Fixed, dilated pupils

Hartl R, Gerber L, Ni Q, Ghajar J. Effect of Early Nutrition on Deaths Due to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2008;109:50-56.

Early Nutrition, Contd.

• Energy requirements estimated at 25 kcal/kg/day

• Mortality: death within 2 weeks after TBI

• Initial: 1,818 patients, Final:1,261 patients• 61% began feeding Days 1-3• 5% never fed over 7 days

• 62% never met 25 kcal/kg/day goal



• Two week mortality higher if not fed within 5 to 7 days

• Two week mortality highest in patients never fed

• Mortality rate significantly decreased with increased nutritional level



• Increased mortality with prolonged feeds• 2.1x more likely if no feeds for 5 days• 4.1x more likely if no feeds for 7 days

• Every 10 kcal/kg decrease within 5 to 7 days resulted 30-40% increased mortality risk


Evidence Based Nutrition – Enteral Support

• 71 patients• ≥ 72 hours in ICU

• TBI• Intracranial Hemorrhage• Subarachnoid Hemorrhage• Brain Tumor

• GCS > 3

Zarbock S, Steinke D, Hatton J, Magnuson B, Smith K, Cook A. Successful Enteral Nutritional Support in the Neurocritical Care Unit. Neurocritical Care.2008;9:210-216.

Enteral Support, Contd.

• Compared severity of neurologic illness to caloric intake• Mild: GCS >11• Moderate: GCS 8-11• Severe GCS 4-7

• Relationship between severity of neurologic illness and caloric intake?


Enteral Support, Contd.

• GCS did not affect % caloric intake• Delays in meeting caloric goals

• Delay in initiation of feeds• Delay in tube placement verification• Orders for enteral

• Initiate nutrition, obtain goal rate• If residuals, decrease rate


Evidence Based Nutrition – 6 Month Outcome

• 88 patients• 24 hours post TBI• GCS 4-8• Hospitalized ≥ 1 week

• All received standard care for trauma

Dhandapani SS, Manju M, Sharma BS, Mahaparta AK. Clinical Malnutrition in severe traumatic brain injury: Factors associated and outcome at 6 months. Indian Journal of Neurotrauma. 2007;4(1):35-39.

6 Month Outcome, Contd.• Enteral or by mouth nutrition

• Initiated as soon as possible• Gradually increased to goal as tolerated

• GCS assessed at 3 and 6 months• Good recovery/moderate disability –

Favorable• Persistent vegetative state or death –

Unfavorable


6 Month Outcome, Contd.

• 94% patients fed after 7 days, malnourished

• Early feeding, 54% malnourished

• Unfavorable outcome in 30 of 37 with clinical malnutrition

• Unfavorable outcome in 3 of 15 with no clinical malnutrition


6 Month Outcome, Contd.

• 40% mortality in malnourished• 11% mortality in non-malnourished

• TBI most common cause of death and disability in young people


TBI Complications – Intracranial Pressure

• Increases due to increase in cerebrospinal fluid

• Damages brain by restricting blood flow• Methods to alleviate pressure:

• Ventriculostomy with IVC• Osmotic Diuretic, Mannitol• Hypertonic Saline Solution• Medically Induced Coma, Pentobarbital

Intracranial Pressure, Sodium

• Maintained between 140 and 150 mg/dl

• Hypernatremia used to reduce cerebral swelling

• 2% Saline Solution administered

Hospital, Day 4

• IVC drain placed• Pentobarbital coma initiated• Cooling blanket initiated

Macronutrient Needs – Pentobarbital Coma

• Decreased macronutrient needs due to Pentobarbital

• Penn-State Critical Non-Obese Formula• Stress Factors 0.8 to 1.0

• 1,623 to 2,029 kcal• 71-85 gm protein (1.0 – 1.2 gm/kg)• 2,133 mL fluid

TBI Complications – Gastric Emptying

• Causes delays in gastric emptying• Pentobarbital reduces gastric

emptying• Closely monitor residuals• Possible post pyloric feeds if needed

Hospital, Day 8

• Patients temperature spiked• Hypothermia Protocol Initiated

• Body temperature decreased to 33°C

Micronutrient Needs – Pentobarbital Coma and Hypothermia Protocol

• Decreased temperature further reduced macronutrient needs

• Penn-State Critical Non-Obese Formula• Stress Factors 0.9 to 1.0

• 1,125 to 1,250 kcal• 71-92 gm protein (1.0–1.3 gm/kg)• 2,133 mL fluid

Hospital, Day 12

• Hospital shortage of Pentobarbital• Patient changed to Propofol @ 85

ml/hr

• Day 13 – Pentobarbital resumed

Hospital, Day 17

• PEG and tracheostomy placed• Hypothermia Protocol Discontinued

• Temperature increased to 37.1°C

• Intracranial pressure improved• Pentobarbital discontinued• Precedex started

Micronutrient Needs – D/c Coma and Hypothermia Protocol

• Mild weight reduction• Increased macronutrient needs• Penn State Critical Non-Obese Formula

• Stress Factors 1.0 to 1.2

• 1,992 to 2,390 kcal• 107 to 142 gm protein (1.5–2.0 gm/kg)• 2,133 to 2,844 mL fluid

Hospital, Day 23 - 27

• Day 23 – • Cerebral edema improving• Intracranial pressure resolving• Clamping trials to begin

• Day 26 – • IVC drain removed

• Day 27 – • Seizures due to drop in Sodium

Weight Status

• Weight 59.9 kg • 11.2 kg wt loss since admission• BMI 17.6• 69% Ideal Body Weight

• Increased Kcal and Protein needs

Micronutrient Needs – Severe Weight Loss

• Penn State Critical Non-Obese Formula• Stress Factors 1.3 to 1.5

• 2,625 to 3,029 kcal• 118 to 148 gm protein (2.0 to 2.5 gm/kg)• 2,133 to 2,844 mL fluid

• Patient fed using Two Cal HN

Hospital Day, 34

• Patient discharged to Kernan rehabilitation facility

Why Nutrition?

• Nutrition within 5-7 days after injury reduces mortality

• Early nutrition prevents long term malnutrition

• Protects brain by providing large amounts of energy during hyperglycolysis and hyperemia

Nutrition Within 1 Week• Associated with reduction in 2 week

mortality• Helps meet needs from hypermetabolism,

increased protein needs• Prevents loss of protein and glycogen

stores• Postponing can result in malnutrition

Long Term Outcomes• Malnutrition after TBI associated with

malnutrition 6 months later• Lower GCS, protein and albumin upon

admission associated with greater risk of malnutrition

• Delayed nutrition, risk of malnutrition increases• Rapid depletion of glycogen and protein stores

PES Statement, Intervention, Goal

Problem: Increased nutrient needs (NC – 5.1)Etiology: Head TraumaSign/Symptoms: CT scan showing swelling, bifrontal contusions, subarachnoid hemorrhage and left temporal contusions.

Interventions#1. Insert enteral feeding tube (ND-2.1.2)Recommend to insert NG tube to allow for tube feeding of intubated patient.#2. Formula/Solution (ND-2.1.1)Recommend a calorically dense formula to provide adequate calories and protein.

GoalShort-term: To initiate tube feeding. To tolerate tube feeding at goal rate.Long-term: To transition to solid food once extubated.


Problem: Decreased Nutrient Needs (NI – 5.4)Etiology: Patient with medically induced coma, hypothermia protocolSign/Symptoms: Currently on pentobarbital with temperature of 33°C.

Interventions#1. Formula/Solution (ND-2.1.1)Recommend to reduce tube feeding rate based on recalculated needs to a lower rate, providing fewer calories and protein.

GoalShort-term: To decrease tube feeding rate. To tolerate tube feeding at goal rate.Long-term: To maintain weight and protein stores.


Problem: Swallowing difficulty (NI – 1.1)Etiology: Patient currently intubatedSign/Symptoms: Need for tube feeding.

Interventions#1. Insert enteral feeding tube (ND-2.1.2)Recommend to insert NG tube to allow for tube feeding of intubated patient.

GoalShort-term: To initiate tube feeding. To tolerate tube feeding at goal rate.Long-term: If not extubated, to obtain a PEG tube.

Monitoring

• Tube feeding tolerance through monitoring residuals

• Energy and protein intake through formula selection

• Monitor daily weights• Prealbumin levels

TBI Facts

• 20-50% of cases result in death• 52,000 people die each year• 85% die within first two weeks

Why Is Nutrition So Important?

• Maintains energy balance and cerebral hemostasis

• Associated with 2 week mortality reduction

• Prevents malnutrition• Better outcomes of survival and

disability• Helps prevent muscle wasting and

weight loss

Where Is Our Patient Now?

• Discharged from Kernan weeks after admission

• Recently visited ICU at Sinai Hospital• Walks, Talks, Eats!• Plans to attend outpatient rehab group

at Sinai

nutritional management of traumatic brain injury

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