Diet-related complications according to the timing of enteral nutrition support in patients who recovered from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a propensity score matched analysis

BACKGROUND: A proper nutritional plan for resuscitated patients is important in intensive care; however, specific nutritional guidelines have not yet been established. This study aimed to determine the incidence of diet-related complications that were affected by the timing of enteral nutrition in resuscitated patients after cardiac arrest. METHODS: This retrospective and 1:1 propensity score matching study involved patients who recovered after nontraumatic, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at a tertiary hospital. Patients were divided into an early nutrition support (ENS) group and a delayed nutrition support (DNS) group according to the nutritional support time within 48 hours after admission. The incidence of major clinical complications was compared between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 46 patients (ENS: 23, DNS: 23) were enrolled in the study. There were no differences in body mass index, comorbidity, and time of cardiopulmonary resuscitation between the two groups. There were 9 patients (ENS: 4, DNS: 5) with aspiration pneumonia; 4 patients (ENS: 2, DNS: 2) with regurgitation; 1 patient (ENS: 0, DNS: 1) with ileus; 21 patients (ENS: 10, DNS: 11) with fever; 13 patients (ENS: 8, DNS: 5) with hypoglycemia; and 20 patients (ENS: 11, DNS: 9) with hyperglycemia. The relative risk of each complication during post-resuscitation care was no different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was a similar incidence of diet-related complications during post cardiac arrest care according to the timing of enteral nutrition.