IMPACT OF EARLY ENTERAL NUTRITION WITH IMMUNONUTRIENTS IN MORBIMORTALITY IN PATIENTS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF MEXICALI`S GENERAL HOSPITAL

Background and objectives: Introduction: early enteral nutrition is initiated in the first 24-48 hours after injury or admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), it is a method of nutritional support with beneficial effects for the patient that improve outcome. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the third cause of death in Mexico caused by accidents or violence, therefore it is considered a serious public health problem. Objective: to determine if early enteral nutrition with immunonutrients (EENI) supplied to patients with TBI decreases morbimortality in the ICU of the General Hospital of Mexicali. Methods: random systematic, longitudinal and comparative clinical study in 22 patients with severe TBI, 11 patients in the control group with Early enteral modular nutrition (EEMN) and 11 in the intervention group supplied with EENI, that were admitted to the ICU and complied with inclusion criteria, from August 1st, 2015 to June 30, 2016. Results: 16 (72.7%) males and 6 (27.3%) females with a mean age of 34.7 years. The main causes of TBI were run over and motor vehicle accident in 54.6%. The group with EENI showed increase in weight (T of Student 23.737, p=.001), total proteins (T de Student 13.40, p=.001), leukocytes (T Student de 2.05, p =.002) and lymphocytes (T de Student 7.09, p=.001) at discharge from the ICU. Length of stay in the ICU, mechanical ventilation, infections, mortality and days of enteral nutrition were less in the EENI group. Conclusions: EENI impacts in a positive way by decreasing the incidence of infectious complications as length of stay in the hospital by which it is possible to improve in less time patient's health and diminish hospital costs.