[Enteral feeding of hospitalized neurologic patients: analysis of complications and nutritional results].

Patients with severe neurologic diseases submitted to enteral tube feeding were analyzed for four weeks. Initial and weekly assessment was done by laboratory and anthropometric data. Caloric requirements were calculated by the Harris-Benedict equation corrected for stress factors. The diet used provided 151 calories per gram of nitrogen, consisting of egg albumin, soy protein, maltodextrin, soy oil, medium-chain triglycerides, vitamin supplement, and mineral salts. Starting on the second week, there was a statistically significant correlation between caloric intake and caloric needs. In the same period, maintenance of lab parameters, worsening of the arm muscle circumference, and a trend to a positive nitrogen balance were observed. Diarrhea occurred in 14.5% of the patients. Enteral nutrition support for neurologic patients can be considered effective in the maintenance of the nutritional status. Careful daily monitoring is mandatory.